| dc.description.abstract | Bullying behaviour and its adverse health consequences are a major problem in
elementary schools in the Region of Waterloo. The purpose of this project was to gather
baseline information on the frequency and context of bullying behaviour as one way to
evaluate a new framework tool, “Imagine...A School Without Bullying,” as a bullying
prevention strategy. The researcher analyzed baseline data from a parent survey at five
schools in the Region of Waterloo to determine the frequency and context of bullying
behaviour; identify the characteristics of perpetrators and victims (i.e., age, gender, race,
and recent enrollment at the school); synthesize recommendations for improvement of the
program by parents (i.e., qualitative analysis); ^d offer recommendations to the Youth
Health Team of the Region of Waterloo Public Health Department (ROWPHD) to
improve the program. Analysis of the data found that boys are five times more likely than
girls to physically bully at least once a month and more than twice as likely to perpetuate
verbal bullying at the same rate. At a rate of once or twice a month, boys are far more
likely to be bullied physically. Girls are bullied electronically three times more than boys.
Grade 6 students, in comparison to students in Grades 4, 5, and 7, experience a greater
incidence of name-calling. The researcher found a statistically significant difference
between boys and girls with respect to sexual harassment in the form of name-calling.
Parents offered constructive criticism, with the most reported themes being more
supervision, more education, and harsher punishment. Bullying prevention is best
accomplished through a whole community perspective (i.e., students^ teachers, school
staff, parents, community members). Education, awareness, assessment, intervention, and
policy changes are recommended to reduce bullying behaviour. | |
