The Involvement of Girls and Boys with Bullying: An Analysis of Gender Differences

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Marta Angélica Iossi Silva¹  Beatriz Pereira³  Denisa Mendon๺²  Berta Nunes⁴ 

[1] University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil; E-Mail:;Institute of Biomedical Science Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto 4050-313, Portugal; E-Mail:;Institute of Education, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; E-Mail:;Bragança Sub-Health Region, Bragança 3501-862, Portugal; E-Mail:

关键词: school health services;    bullying;    public health;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph10126820

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This exploratory and cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence of bullying in a group of students and analyze the data regarding the gender of those involved in the violence. A questionnaire adapted from Olweus was applied in seven elementary education schools in Portugal. The sample consisted of 387 students between 7 and 14 years old. Data are presented in terms of descriptive statistics and differences between proportions were analyzed using chi-square tests. The gender analysis of victimization and aggression shows that boys and girls are both victims and aggressors, and there are significant differences in involvement in bullying between genders and the roles played. Boys are victims more often when considering different types of bullying, although significant differences were only found for physical aggression. Strategies that include gender roles are a priority for prevention and careful attention to this phenomenon in the school context. The questions addressed contribute to a broader understanding of the phenomenon, emphasizing the differential participation of boys and girls in bullying.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.