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A qualitative study investigating adolescents' understanding of aggression, bullying and violence

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  • Hopkins, Lisa
  • Taylor, Laura
  • Bowen, Erica
  • Wood, Clare

Abstract

There is a general consistency across the research literature regarding the definition of bullying. This has filtered down into the construction of governmental and school anti-bullying policies around the world. However, research suggests that children and adolescents are failing to accurately identify cases of bullying. This in turn has implications upon the accuracy of our perception of the extent of the problem of bullying within schools. The current study aimed to investigate how 11–17year olds understand and differentiate between terms relating to interpersonal peer aggression, violence and bullying. Fifty-seven (twenty male, thirty-seven female) participants were recruited via an opportunity sample. Participants took part in focus group interviews within which they were asked to provide a definition for a list of words relating to both traditional and cyber forms of aggression, bullying and violence. Thematic analysis revealed that the participants held a shared understanding of the terms relating to aggression, bullying and violence. Participants defined each term by describing the behaviors involved, their perception of the level of control the perpetrators of each type of negative peer interaction have and the perception of those involved. The implications of these findings for both policy and future research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hopkins, Lisa & Taylor, Laura & Bowen, Erica & Wood, Clare, 2013. "A qualitative study investigating adolescents' understanding of aggression, bullying and violence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 685-693.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:35:y:2013:i:4:p:685-693
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.01.012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Singh, Ilina, 2011. "A disorder of anger and aggression: Children's perspectives on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(6), pages 889-896, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Niels C.L. Jacobs & Linda Goossens & Francine Dehue & Trijntje Völlink & Lilian Lechner, 2015. "Dutch Cyberbullying Victims’ Experiences, Perceptions, Attitudes and Motivations Related to (Coping with) Cyberbullying: Focus Group Interviews," Societies, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Piko, Bettina F. & Prievara, Dora K. & Mellor, David, 2017. "Aggressive and stressed? Youth's aggressive behaviors in light of their internet use, sensation seeking, stress and social feelings," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 55-61.
    3. Dóra Eszter Várnai & Marta Malinowska-Cieślik & Andrea Madarasová Gecková & Ladislav Csémy & Zsolt Horváth, 2022. "Do Neighbors Have More Peaceful Students? Youth Violence Profiles among Adolescents in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.

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