Exploring the experiences and impact of middle school and high school bullying: A qualitative analysis of interviews with college women

Abstract

This qualitative study sought to provide a deeper understanding of the experiences of college women who had been bullied while in middle school and/or high school. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 college women between the ages of 18–23 who were asked to describe the bullying behaviors they experienced, the impact it had on them at the time, and the ongoing impact it has had on their college experience. All the women shared stories of being bullied by other girls. The bullying behaviors experienced were divided into four categories: verbal, physical, exclusion, and cyberbullying. When describing the impact, the most common themes were negative emotional responses (including experiencing anxiety, feeling very alone, having a very low sense of self, and fears of making friends or trusting new people), as well as avoidance (avoiding extracurricular events, certain classes, cafeteria). Most stated that, particularly in their first year of college, they felt the ongoing negative emotional impact of being bullied, in terms of social anxiety and a lack of self-confidence, however they also talked about the positive gains and growth they had made by overcoming being bullied. Recommendations for what middle school and high schools, as well as parents, can do to work to reduce bullying behaviors are discussed.