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Adolescents’ definitions of bullying: the contribution of age, gender, and experience of bullying

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Abstract

The aim of the present research was to examine adolescents’ definitions of bullying in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in Ireland. Definitions of bullying were examined according to age, gender, and bullying experiences. A sample of 4358 adolescents aged 12–19 years (M = 14.99 years, SD = 1.63) provided their definitions of bullying as part of the My World Survey-Second Level. The definitions were explored using content analysis. Adolescents differed in terms of their definition of bullying, with younger students frequently describing the nature of bullying as mean, while older students displayed a heightened awareness of the feelings associated with being a victim of bullying. Older females and those who had experienced bullying were more likely to discuss the emotions associated with bullying compared to males and those who had not been bullied. Adolescent definitions of bullying were not in line with widely accepted researcher definitions. Recommendations are made for researchers and those designing anti-bullying interventions and educational programmes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Hollie Byrne, Barbara Dooley, Amanda Fitzgerald & Louise Dolphin

  2. Headstrong: The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, 16 Westland Square, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Barbara Dooley

Authors
  1. Hollie Byrne
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  2. Barbara Dooley
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  3. Amanda Fitzgerald
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  4. Louise Dolphin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara Dooley.

Additional information

Hollie Byrne. School of Psychology, University College Dublin,Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland, Email: byrnehollie@gmail.com; Website: http://www.ucd.ie/psychology/

Current themes of research:

Adolescent mental health

Barbara Dooley. School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4 and (Headstrong: The National Centre for Youth Mental Health) 16 Westland Square, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, Email: barbara.dooley@ucd.ie; Websites: http://www.ucd.ie/psychology/ and https://www.headstrong.ie/

Current themes of research:

Adolescent mental health in schools. Eating disorders in adolescents. Alcohol behaviour in young people. Peer-mentoring in schools.

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Dooley, B., Fitzgerald., A., & Giollabhui, N. M. (2015). The risk and protective factors associated with depression and anxiety in a national sample of Irish adolescents. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 30 (Special Issue 01), 93-105.

Kenny, R., Dooley, B., & Fitzgerald, A. (2013) ‘Interpersonal relationships and emotional distress in adolescence’. Journal of Adolescence , 36 (2):351-360.

Dooley, B. & Fitzgerald, A. (2013) ‘Methodology on the My World Survey (MWS): a unique window into the world of adolescents in Ireland’, Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 7 (1): 12-22.

Amanda Fitzgerald. School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland, Email: amanda.fitzgerald@ucd.ie; Website: http://www.ucd.ie/psychology

Current themes of research:

Social anxiety in second level pupils. Alcohol behaviour in young people. Resilience in adolescents

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Dooley, B., Fitzgerald., A., & Giollabhui, N. M. (2015). The risk and protective factors associated with depression and anxiety in a national sample of Irish adolescents. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 30 (Special Issue 01), 93-105.

Kenny, R., Dooley, B., & Fitzgerald, A. (2013) ‘Interpersonal relationships and emotional distress in adolescence’. Journal of Adolescence , 36 (2):351-360.

Dooley, B. & Fitzgerald, A. (2013) ‘Methodology on the My World Survey (MWS): a unique window into the world of adolescents in Ireland’, Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 7 (1): 12-22.

Louise Dolphin. School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland, Email: louise.dolphin@ucd.ie; Website: http://www.ucd.ie/psychology

Current themes of research:

Adolescent depression stigma. Adolescent mental health. Depression labelling

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Dolphin, L., & Hennessy, E. (2014). Adolescents׳ perceptions of peers with depression: an attributional analysis. Psychiatry Research, 218(3), 295-302.

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Byrne, H., Dooley, B., Fitzgerald, A. et al. Adolescents’ definitions of bullying: the contribution of age, gender, and experience of bullying. Eur J Psychol Educ 31, 403–418 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-015-0271-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-015-0271-8

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