The nature and incidence of bullying in Maltese state schools

Abstract

The aim of this present study is to investigate the phenomenon of bullying among Form 1 Maltese State Secondary School students. Specifically it seeks to determine how the students react to bullying and their attitudes towards it. In addition the study sets out to investigate the incidence and nature of bullying among Form 1 students. Differences in grade level, sex, school, pupil's height, and father's occupation were investigated. A questionnaire survey was carried out on a sample of 1,168 Form 1 students (603 boys and 565 girls) in various Maltese Secondary State Schools. Results showed that where bullying was concerned, there were many Maltese students who were the victims rather than the bullies. Clear sex differences in the incidence of bullying showed that girls exceeded boys as bullies, but the overwhelming majority of victims were boys. Students attending Area Secondary Schools, were found to be significantly more involved in bullying. Findings also showed that students whose fathers were white collar workers represented the greatest segment of both those who bullied others and who were bullied. Age-position was shown to be related to differences in the occurrence of the named phenomenon.