Preventing and Responding to Bullying and Harassment in Schools: What we know and what can be Done

Abstract

Of the many serious challenges confronting schools today, bullying and harassment perhaps pose the most deleterious and persistent long-term outcomes for students. The effects of bullying are not limited to the students targeted by these behaviors, but also negatively affect the bullies and bystanders who witness the events. An array of factors influence, or even perpetuate, school bullying. The factors are related to individual characteristics of the students, social relationships in school, family support, neighborhood influences, and community systems. In this chapter, we describe the effects of bullying and harassment and, provide a current perspective of the magnitude of the problem. We also discuss effective responses to bullying and harassment in schools and approaches for prevention. School-wide implementation of programs is highlighted.

Citation

Sprague, J. and Nishioka, V. (2012), "Preventing and Responding to Bullying and Harassment in Schools: What we know and what can be Done", Cook, B.G., Tankersley, M. and Landrum, T.J. (Ed.) Classroom Behavior, Contexts, and Interventions (Advances in Learning and Behavioral Disabilities, Vol. 25), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 217-245. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0735-004X(2012)0000025012