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Bullying at School: It's hard not to feel helpless

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Phillip T. Slee*
Affiliation:
Human Development, School of Education, Flinders University, SA

Abstract

A sample of 422 students (212 males; 210 females) ranging in age from 5-15 years completed an interview regarding their experiences of victimisation at school. Conservatively, 6% were bullied ‘once a week or more’, while 91% of the sample had witnessed incidents of bullying at school. Nearly one fifth of the sample felt powerless to stop bullying. The findings also indicated a relationship between victimisation and external locus of control suggesting that one outcome of victimisation is a feeling of powerlessness or helplessness. The findings were discussed in terms of the mental health outcomes for victims of bullying.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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