Peer Victimisation in Public Schools: A Comparison of the Psychosocial Attributes of Victims and Non-Victims

• NCJ Number: 217079
• Journal: Acta Criminologica Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: 2006 Pages: 123-144
• Author(s): J. J. Neser
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa
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Annotation

This study compared the characteristics of student victims of peer bullying at school with those of non-victims among a sample of primary and secondary students in Tshwane South, South Africa.

Abstract

Results revealed that over half (53.1 percent) the students had been victimized by peer aggression at school. Forty-six percent reported they had never been victimized at school. Victimized students were significantly more likely than non-victimized students to be male, have higher incidences of loneliness at school, exhibit school avoidance, and express feelings of being unsafe in the school environment. Victimized students also had lower self-esteem, higher incidences of depression, and were predisposed to higher levels of anxiety. Victimized students were more likely than their non-victimized counterparts to attend regular worship services, share irregular family meals, and to have supervision at home after school. Almost twice as many victimized students reported being only children. Participants were 1,866 primary and secondary students attending schools in Tshwane South, District 4. Participants, who were selected via purposive sampling, completed a survey questionnaire during school that had previously been developed and pilot tested by the author. Data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Future research should continue to probe differences in the characteristics of victims and non-victims of peer aggression so that risk and protective factors can be identified and harnessed. Tables, bibliography