Bullying study:
Even youngest kids get pushed around

By Greg Harris

Bullying occurs as frequently among students in Grades 1-3 as it does in Grades 4-6, according to one of the first research studies anywhere to look at bullying among our youngest schoolchildren.

“It’s an extremely important issue because bullying interferes with students’ abilities to learn and teachers’ abilities to teach,” says Tanya Beran (left), the U of C educational researcher who conducted the study.

“Findings like these provide more evidence that school administrators should consider implementing prevention programs across all age groups, not just among older students.”

Grades 1-3 roughly include the six- to nine-year-old age group and Grades 4-6 include nine- to 12-year-olds.

Published this month by the Canadian Journal of School Psychology, the study, co-authored by Dr. Leslie Tutty, U of C professor of social work, surveyed a total of 472 students in Grades 1-6 from three Calgary schools. It found that about half of all children surveyed report at least some form of bullying. (The identity of the participating schools is confidential under the terms of the research project.)

Forms of bullying can include physical or verbal intimidation that causes fear or distress, or indirect intimidation, such as gossiping or excluding. Victims of bullies report a variety of difficulties, such as panic, irritability, poor concentration, as well as feeling insecure, anxious, cautious and afraid. In its most severe forms bullying can produce depression, feelings of hopelessness, and even suicide.

“Any form of bullying has damaging consequences – even for the innocent bystanders,” Beran says. “Children who witness bullying often report feeling distressed and uncomfortable, as though they have vicariously experienced the trauma of bullying.”

Within the total school population it’s estimated that 10 per cent are the bullies, anywhere between 10-50 per cent are the victims, and the rest are bystanders.

Results of the study also show that students associate higher levels of verbal bullying with a lower sense of school safety, that they consider the playground the least safe area of the school, and that they regard teachers as allies in creating a safe environment.

“It’s important to note, however, that teachers can’t be everywhere,” Beran says. “Administrators, parents, teachers, and students all need to work together to raise awareness about bullying and to create a kind and respectful atmosphere in our schools.”

Many schools already have a “zero avoidance” policy, or not letting any cases of bullying go by unaddressed.

The study was supported by RESOLVE Alberta, (Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse), a network of researchers and community partners in the Prairie provinces.