Student Perceptions of Aggressive Behaviors and Predictive Patterns of Perpetration and Victimization: The Role of Age and Sex

• NCJ Number: 231439
• Journal: Journal of School Violence Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: July - September 2010 Pages: 251-270
• Author(s): Brenda Russell; Shane W. Kraus; Traci Ceccherini
• Date Published: July 2010
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined perceptions of bullying behavior in a sample of boys and girls in rural New England.

Abstract

This study investigated a rural sample of boys' and girls' (N = 205) perceptions of what behaviors constitute bullying and examined whether being a victim of aggression was predictive of perpetrating physical and relational aggression. Results indicated that predictors of perpetrating relational aggression included victimization of relational aggression, student age, and perpetration of physical aggression. Predictors of physical aggression included perpetration of relational aggression and being a victim of physical aggression. A mixed model MANOVA indicated that students were more likely to perceive physical aggression as bullying and younger students found both physical and relational aggression more hurtful than older students. Results suggest the behaviors students perceive as bullying vary with age and gender and demonstrate the relationship between victimization and perpetration of physical and relational aggression. Tables and references (Published Abstract)