Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Australian school children's self appraisal of interpersonal relations: The bullying experience

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The extent and nature of bullying among South Australian primary school children and their self appraisals of peer relations were investigated in a survey of 412 primary school children between the ages of 7 to 13 years. It was found that 10% of boys and 6% of girls were subject to peer group bullying and for 8% of such children the bullying episodes lasted 6 months or more. Factor analysis of styles of interpersonal relating amongst children identified three independent factors including a tendency to bully, to be victimised and to act in a pro-social manner. The tendency to be victimised correlated negatively with self appraisals of the number of friends, popularity, happiness at school and feelings of safety at school. The findings are discussed in relation to research linking negative self appraisals of interpersonal competence with isolation and proneness to depression in later years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hill, T.: Neglected and rejected children. Promoting social competence in early childhood settings.Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 14: 11–17, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hymel, S. and Franke, S.: Children's peer relations: Assessing self perceptions. In B.H. Schneider, K.H. Rubin and J.E. Ledingham:Children's peer relations: Issues in assessment and interaction. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rubin, K.H. and Mills, R.S.L.: The many faces of social isolation in childhood.Journal of consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 916–924, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Olweus D: Bully/victim problems among school children: basic facts and effects of a school based intervention program. In K. Rubin and D. Peper (eds.),The development and treatment of childhood aggression. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rigby, K. and Slee, P.T.: Bullying among Australian school children: reported behaviour and attitudes to victims.Journal of Social Psychology, 1991.

  6. Smith, P.K.: The silent nightmare: bullying and victimisation in school peer groups.The Psychologist, 48: 243–248, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Perry, D.G., Kusel, S.J. and Perry, L.C.: Victims of peer aggression.Developmental Psychology, 24: 807–814, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rigby, K. and Slee, P.T.: Dimensions of interpersonal relating among Australian children and implications for psychological well-being. Journal of Social Psychology, 1992 (in press).

  9. Asher, S.R.: Recent advances in the study of peer rejection. In S.R. Asher and S.D. Coie (eds.),Peer rejection in childhood. Cambridge University Press, New York: 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sullivan, H.S.:The interpersonal theory of psychiatry. New York, Norton, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rubin, K.: Socially withdrawn children: An “at risk” population? In B.H. Schneider, K.H. Rubin, J.E. Ledingham (eds.).Children's peer relations: Issues in assessment and intervention. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Boulton, M.J. and Underwood, K.: Bully/victim problems among middle school children.British Journal of Educational Psychology, 62, 78–87, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Andrews, F.M. and Withey, S.B.:Social indicators of well-being, New York, Plenum: 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gilmartin, B.G.: Peer group antecedents of severe love shyness in males.Journal of Personality, 55: 467–489, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Coie, J.D.: Dodge, K.A.: and Kupersmidt Peer group behaviour and social status. In S.R. Asher and J.D. Coie (eds.),Peer rejection in childhood. Cambridge University Press, New York: 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Slee, P.T. and Rigby, K.: The relationship of Eysenck's personality factors and self esteem to bully-victim behaviour in Australian school boys.Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 1993, 14:371–373.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Rubin, K.H., LeMare, L.J. and Lollis, S.: Social withdrawal in childhood: developmental pathways in peer rejection. In S.R. Asher and J.D. Coie (eds.)Peer rejection in childhood, Cambridge University Press, New York: 1990.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Australia, South Australia, Australia

    Ken Rigby PhD

  2. School of Education, The Flinders University of South Australia, Sturt Building, G.P.O. Box 2100, 5001, Adelaide, South Australia

    Phillip T. Slee PhD (Lecturer in Human Development)

Authors
  1. Phillip T. Slee PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ken Rigby PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Slee, P.T., Rigby, K. Australian school children's self appraisal of interpersonal relations: The bullying experience. Child Psych Hum Dev 23, 273–282 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707680

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707680

Keywords

Search

Navigation