1. Greek Students’ & Teachers’ Understanding of School Bullying: Results from a Nationwide Research Study Anastasia Psalti, Department of Early Childhood Care & Education Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece

2. Bullying 1 Not a recent phenomenon that emerged in the 20 th century Not synonymous with violence or aggression, but a particular form of both Essential elements (Olweus, 1993): –The harmful act must be intentional, although it may be physical, verbal, or psychological –The act must also be repetitive –The act must be directed from a more powerful (physically, verbally or socially) individual towards one who is weaker 1 From: Bauman & Del Rio (2005)

3. Bullying in Greek Schools Bullying – a widespread phenomenon around the world Growing interest in Greece over the past decade –A few localized studies –Participants: elementary-school students Project PYTHAGORAS: A large-scale research project co- funded by the European Union-Social Fund and National Resources (EPEAEK II) Objectives: –To study the phenomenon of school violence in Greek schools (Pre- school through High School) in relation to the formation of gender and cultural identity –To look into the process of the social construction of both perpetrators and victims

4. Methodology STUDY 1 2027 elementary-school students from state schools all over Greece –Gender: 49.7% girls & 50.3% boys –Grade: 52.8% 5 th grade (age:11) & 47.2% 6 th grade (age: 12) 1830 secondary-school students from state schools all over Greece Gender: 52.4% girls & 47.6% boys Grade: 58% 1 st of Lyceum (age: 16) & 40% 3 rd of Gymnasium (age: 15) STUDY 2 135 preschoolers from kindergartens and pre-schools in the greater Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki Gender: 54.8% girls & 45.2% boys Age: 4-6 years

5. Methodology STUDY 1 Elementary & Secondary Education Questionnaire 'Life at School' (Elementary Form & Secondary Form) developed by the research team based on: The Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (1996) & the Pro-Victim Scale (PVS) by Rigby & Slee (1991) STUDY 2 Pre-School Education Individual Interview Protocol developed by the research team bullying scenarios and matching cartoon cards, modified from the cartoon cards of the intervention program “But is it Bullying?” by Margaret Collins (2004).

6. STUDY 1 - Results

7. Elementary School Students Victims: –8-14% of students (boys, high achievers) –Victims of verbal (mockery) & social (rumour spreading) bullying –Place: playground, corridors & classrooms (minimal supervision) –Duration: >10% for years –Bullies: same age boys, of Greek decent, low achievers, with behaviour problems Bullies: –3-4% of students (mostly boys) –Verbal bullying

8. Secondary School Students Victims: –10-13% of students (boys, high achievers) –Victims of verbal (sexual harassment) & social (rumour spreading) bullying –Place: places with minimal supervision (playground) –Duration: >10% for years –Bullies: same age boys, of Greek decent, low achievers, with behaviour problems Bullies: –1 in 10 students (mostly boys) –Verbal bullying (sexual harassment & teasing)

9. Some more results… Report of victimization –All grades: friends –Elementary school: parents, teachers, siblings, other person Report of Bullying –All grades: friends –Elementary school: parents, siblings, other person Coping mechanisms –All grades: ignore –Elementary: retaliate, avoid, report to teachers, protect oneself, ask help from friends, stop, run away –Secondary: ignore

10. Some more results… Usual reaction to bullying –All grades: help –Elementary: help –Secondary: negative or indifferent reactions Feelings toward victims –All grades: sympathy & help –Elementary: sympathy & help –Secondary: some sympathy, not much, s/he deserved it Future bullying –All grades: probably not –Elementary: probably not

11. Elementary School Teachers Bullying incidents: 8% (physical) to 68% (verbal-teasing) –Place: playground, corridors, classrooms –Duration: short (1 week to 1 month) Victims: –High achievers, of non-Greek decent, same age as bullies Bullies: –Boys with behaviour problems who act in groups Interventions from family & school

12. Secondary School Teachers Bullying incidents: 10% (physical) to 40% (verbal) –Place: playground, during breaks –Duration: short (1 week to 1 month) Victims: –Boys, high achievers, of non-Greek decent, same age as bullies Bullies: –Boys, low achievers, of Greek decent who act in groups Interventions from family & school A type of conflict among boys; a personal matter for those involved

13. STUDY 2 - Results

14. Bullying at preschool – peer-reports

15. Bullying at preschool – self-reports

16. Some more results… –Report of victimization Teachers:69.2% - 85% Parents:49% - 66.7% –Coping strategies Report to an adult Ask help from a friend Retaliate Flee

17. CONCLUSION

18. Bullying in Greek Schools Peer reports: –High incidence rates at preschool, peak at middle school & a small decrease at High School –Forms of bullying: Physical – peak at middle school Verbal – main form at preschool, peak at middle school Social – (a) social exclusion: gradual decrease with age, (b) rumours: minimal at preschool, peak at middle school –Participants’ roles: Victims – highest rates at preschool, gradual decrease with age Bullies – lowest rates at preschool, increase with age Bullies/Victims – peak at middle school

19. Bullying in Greek Schools Victimization –Peak at middle school except for mockery (gradual decrease with age) –Physical & Social Exclusion: high rates at preschool –Rumours: lowest rates at preschool Bullying –Peak at middle school –Rumours: lowest rates at preschool

20. Bullying in Greek Schools Report –Victimization: family & teachers at younger ages –Bullying: family at younger ages Coping mechanisms: more active at younger ages Attitudes –Gradual decrease of help with age –Gradual decrease of sympathy toward victims & willingness to help them with age –Gradual decrease of opposition to the use of violence at school with age –Gradual increase of probability to engage in bullying behaviour with age

21. Bullying in Greek Schools Teachers: –Identify most types of bullying, but not all of them –Underestimate bullying incidents in their own school –Interventions: only when an incident occurs –Doubt the efficacy of their own intervention –Dealing with bullying: personal responsibility –Need: Training Support from colleagues, parents & specialised personnel (e.g., school psychologists)

22. Interventions at school Prevention & intervention programs at preschool –Information & sensitisation Prevention & intervention programs at elementary school –Focus on social skill development & conflict resolution –Involvement of parents, teachers & school community Prevention & intervention programs at middle school –Work at individual, class & school level –Focus on social skill development & conflict resolution –Peer networks Prevention & intervention programs at high school –Sensitisation –Skill development & conflict resolution –Peer networks

23. Thank you!