Rural elementary students', parents', and teachers' perceptions of bullying

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prevalence and correlates of bullying in 7 rural elementary schools from students', parents', and teachers' perspectives. Method: Surveys were completed by 739 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students, 367 parents, and 37 teachers. Results: Students tended to report higher prevalence of bullying than did parents or teachers, and their reports were associated with aggression, attitudes toward violence, and perceptions of school safety. Conclusion: Bullying behavior is prevalent in rural elementary schools and is indicative of aggression and proviolence attitudes. Parents and teachers need to pay closer attention to bullying behavior among schoolchildren and to impart their knowledge to children in a comprehensive, coordinated manner.