NCJ Number
212682
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2006 Pages: 69-77
Date Published
January 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study explored the correlates and prevalence of bullying and victimization behaviors in boys and girls attending South Korean primary schools.
Abstract
While previous research has produced knowledge about the prevalence and characteristics of bullying and victimization behaviors in Western countries, it is difficult to generalize these findings to other parts of the world. The current exploration of bullying and victimization among South Korean primary school students collected questionnaire data from 1,187 children and their parents. Assessments included measurements of bullying behaviors, anxiety and depression symptoms, coping strategies, self-esteem, parent’s health, and sociodemographic data on the children and their family structures. Results of multivariate analyses indicated that the prevalence of bullying and victimization behavior was 24.4 percent among this South Korean sample of young children, which is roughly the prevalence found in Western countries. Correlates of bullying and victimization behaviors were identified as gender, greater than average height, higher depression, higher trait anxiety, low body satisfaction, low self-esteem, and school maladjustment. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed and point to the need for school-based early intervention programs for bullying. Future research should focus on understanding gender differences in bullying and victimization in order to better inform intervention programs. Tables, references