Bullying and Self-Injury
Emma-Jayne Brown
Bullying
• Bullied adolescents report higher levels of self-injury.
• Prevalence
• Internationally
• 10%-75% experience traditional victimisation at some point (e.g.
Demaray & Malecki, 2003; Storch et al., 2002)
• 5%-25% experience cybervictimisation (e.g. Hinduja & Patchin, 2012; Brank et al., 2012)
• NZ
• 27%-75% experience traditional victimisation at some point (e.g.
Coggan et al., 2003; Garisch & Wilson, 2010)
• 3%-6% experience cybervictimisation (e.g. Fenaulty, 2010)
• Our study (n=210)
• 42% experienced traditional bullying
• 4% experienced cyberbullying often
Bullying
• Those involved in traditional bullying are more likely to be
involved in cyberbullying (e.g. Jose, 2011)
• Up to 60% of cyber-victims are also traditional-victims (e.g.
Schneider et al., 2012).
Myths about bullying
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It occurs between a bully and a victim
It is impossible to stop bullying
Anti-bullying policies are ineffective
Bullying prevention and intervention are complicated and
expensive
Myths about bullying
• Bullies suffer from insecurity and low self-esteem
• Bullies are looking for attention – ignore them and the bullying
will stop
• Boys will be boys
• Kids can be cruel about differences
• Victims need to learn to stand up for themselves and deal with
the situation
• Most bullying occurs outside of school
• Bullying affects only a small number of students
• Teachers know if bullying is a problem in their classes
• “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names can never
hurt you”
The effects of being bullied
Interpersonal
Negative family relationships
Negative
family
environments
Intrapersonal
e.g. Depression
Poor emotion regulation
Suicidal ideation &
attempts
Lack of friends
Poor academic performance
What about cybervictimisation?
• Research is inconsistent
• Same impact as traditional (e.g. Brank et al., 2012)
• Less impact than traditional (e.g. Patchin & Hindjua, 2006)
• Threat not immediate or face-to-face
• More impact than traditional (e.g. Smith et al., 2008; Drogin & Young, 2008; Bonanno & Hymel,
2013)
How is cyberbullying
different?
• Anonymity
• Bullies less aware of the impact of their behaviour
• Increases fear and mistrust in victims (Sticca & Perren, 2013)
• Access to victims
• At any place or time of the day or night
• Wider audiences
• Can be circulated through many social networks
• Distinction between bully and victim less clear (Law et al., 2012)
• Might influence why some individuals are unaffected
Protective factors
• Friends
• Having a best friend decreases both victimisation and the negative
effects of it (Bollmer et al., 2005)
• Family
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Showing lots of love
Being supportive – open communication, active listening
Providing freedom – developing social skills and circles
Encouraging assertiveness when necessary
Modelling behaviour
How to spot signs of bullying
Refusing to go to school or making excuses to not be at school
Expressing fear of school or saying “I hate school”
Becoming more isolated from others at school
Start doing poorly at school
Show noticeable changes in behaviour or emotions
Having lower self-confidence or self-esteem
Becomes sad, angry, or distressed during/after internet or phone
use
• Appears anxious when receiving a text or facebook
• Avoids discussion or is secretive about cell phone and internet
activities
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What can we do to prevent
cyberbullying?
• Netsafe
• Information and tips about cyberbullying for
• Young people – increasing cyber-safety, telling someone you trust
• Teachers – promoting responsible and safe use, creating a
classroom pledge to be positive bystanders
• Parents – talking about cyberbullying with their kids and teaching
safe internet use
• Peers – actively standing against bullying, being positive
bystanders
The school’s role?
• Avoid labeling students as bullies and victims
• consider multiple explanations for bullying behaviours
• A Whole-School Approach
• Focus more widely on creating a caring and respectful school
climate and positive outcomes
• Promote social and emotional learning
• Have a long-term ongoing focus and specific plans
Resources
• Netsafe – cyberbullying website
• http://www.cyberbullying.org.nz/
• Stop Bullying website
• http://www.stopbullying.gov/
• Wellbeing@School: Building a safe and caring school climate that
deters bullying.
• http://www.wellbeingatschool.org.nz/sites/default/files/Well
being-at-School-overview-paper.pdf