Influence of school climate on bullying prevalence: Russian and international research experience

Abstract

The phenomenon of school bullying is considered from the perspective of its relation to various school climate components. The main characteristics of school bullying are given, specifically its prevalence, age, gender and socioeconomic correlates, as well as effectiveness of most common antibullying programs. Social relationships, both between students and teachers and among peers, are discussed as a significant factor of victimization. In particular, we provide data on teachers' perceptions of bullying, their preferred coping strategies, and the influence of teacher-student relationships on student involvement in bullying. The paper is designed analytically and based mostly on the findings presented in the past 10 years' Russian and foreign studies.