Analyzing Predictors of Bullying Victimization With Routine Activity and Social Bond Perspectives

Abstract

Bullying victimization in school settings is a serious problem in many countries including the United States. It has been associated with serious incidents of school violence as well as detrimental physical, psychological, emotional, and social consequences for its victims. Given its consequences, it is crucial to understand who is more likely to be targeted for bullying victimization. This study examines whether a number of important factors such as gender, physical and interactionist school security measures, and involvement in extracurricular activities influence an individual's risk of bullying victimization from social bond and routine activity perspectives. The study employs the 2011 School Crime Supplement of the National Crime Victimization Survey to investigate the causes of bullying victimization. The results show that gender, interactionist school security measures, and extracurricular activities affect an individual's likelihood of bullying victimization.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Interpersonal Violence among In-School Adolescents in Ghana: Analysis of the Global School-Based Health Survey Data

“…The study found that in-school adolescents who were bullied were significantly more likely to experience interpersonal violence. This result is congruent with previous studies conducted elsewhere [16,26,31]. These studies have shown that bullying victimization was associated with increased violent behavior in adolescents.…”

A multi-country analysis of the prevalence and factors associated with bullying victimisation among in-school adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from the global school-based health survey

“…Existing scholarly evidence from sub-Saharan African countries shows that Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Malawi have reported a high prevalence of bullying victimisation (i.e., 56% [ 11 ], 45.5% [ 3 ], 16.3% [ 12 ], and 44.5% [ 13 ]) respectively. Additionally, socio-demographic (e.g., sex, age, economic status: [ 3 , 12 – 18 ]) and behavioural characteristics (e.g., loneliness, physical fighting, sexual behaviours, substance use, truancy: [ 2 , 3 , 19 – 21 ]) have been identified as correlates of bullying victimisation. Specifically, bullying victimisation is inclined towards boys [ 22 , 23 ]; less prevalent with increasing age [ 22 , 24 , 25 ]; increaseswith loneliness [ 26 ]; high among those who have no friends [ 27 ]; high among thosw who always have negative feelings, such as worries, sadness, unhappiness, or hopelessness [ 28 ]; high among those with low self-esteem [ 29 ]; and those suicide ideation [ 26 ].…”

Guardians of the hallways? School resource officers and bullying

“…Cohen and Felson's (1979) routine activity theory posits that crime is more likely when motivated offenders come into contact with suitable targets in the absence of capable guardians. For most youth, school attendance is a central routine activity and it is well established that schools vary in the presence of offenders, targets and guardians (Cecen-Celik and Keith, 2016;Popp, 2012;Popp and Peguero, 2011). Within schools, bullying is a prevalent and harmful form of peer victimization that consists of repeated and intentionally harmful behaviour perpetrated by a more powerful individual or group against a less powerful individual or group (Gini and Pozzoli, 2009;Olweus, 1993;Wang et al, 2009).…”

“…Although several studies have explored the relationship between SROs and other forms of guardianship on some forms of school-based victimization (Augustine et al, 2002;Peguero, 2009;Peguero et al, 2015;Popp, 2012;Wilcox et al, 2009), few studies have focused on the association between capable guardians and bullying (Cecen-Celik and Keith, 2016;Gerlinger and Wo, 2016;Popp, 2012;Robles-Pina and Denham, 2012). Using a composite measure of several school security practices, Cecen-Celik and Keith (2016) found no effect of physical security on bullying victimization (see also Burrow and Apel, 2008;Popp, 2012;Schreck et al, 2003).…”

“…First, evaluations of SRO effectiveness often rely on perceptions and lack a control group (Na and Gottfredson, 2013). Second, studies focused on the association between capable guardians and bullying have largely relied upon composite scales combining several security measures into one item (Cecen-Celik and Keith, 2016;Gerlinger and Wo, 2016;Kupchik and Farina, 2016;Popp, 2012); thus, they are unable to identify the independent relationship between SROs and bullying. Third, a number of studies use student self-report data (especially, the National Crime Victimization Survey), yet students may not know whether or to what extent some security measures exist at their school (Cecen-Celik and Keith, 2016).…”