A Study of Personal and Environmental Factors Influencing Bullying

Kim, Su-Jeong (2004): A Study of Personal and Environmental Factors Influencing Bullying. Dissertation, LMU München: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

Abstract

This study aims to find out the differences in the bullying experience between boys and girls in different perspectives and to find out the predictive power of cognitive, social and environmental factors on students’ bully and victim tendencies. At last, through this research, this study aims to gain a synthetic perspective on bully phenomenon by considering various aspects in order to provide a theoretical and empirical reference for preventing and intervening bullying problem. The sample size of students used in the analysis was 405 (271 boys and 134 girls) between 12 and 14 years. They were in seventh and eighth grade at two middle schools in Mokpo Korea. 306 caregivers of the students participated in the survey. As the results of this study, there was no difference in perpetrating bullying or being bullied between boys and girls. Most students and bullies attribute the reason of bullying to the victims’ eye-catching characteristics or social skill problems. On the other hand, most victims did not know reason of bullying. Social support, self-concept, attributional style, and cultural beliefs could predict bully tendency and victim tendency. Above all, the most important factor, that relates to bully and victim tendency, is perceived social supports, especially parental supports. Parents concerning about their child can be most strongest prevention of students bullying problems.

• Item Type: Theses (Dissertation, LMU Munich)
• Keywords: bullying, gender difference, social support, self-concept, cultural beliefs
• Subjects: 100 Philosophy and Psychology; 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 150 Psychology
• Faculties: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
• Language: English
• Date of oral examination: 9. July 2004
• 1. Referee: Ziegler, Albert
• Signature of the printed copy: 0001/UMC 15674