I will refer to the following journal items as: Article One - "Does bullying cause emotional problems? A prospective study of young teenagers"(Bond, Carlin, Thomas, Rubin, and Patton 2001); Article Two - "A Qualitative Study of Bullying

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KNOWLEDGE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH

Literature Review

Introduction:

Bullying is an issue of growing concern to parents, teachers, and social workers in New Zealand.  Bullying affects a substantial number of children and youth in all schools, and it is not a new phenomenon, as it has been described in fictional works for centuries (MacDougall, 1993).  Bullying occurs in all schools, but its relevance to health and well being is uncertain (MacDougall, 1993).  It can be considered a common and normal developmental experience; alternatively it can also be considered an important cause of stress and of physical and emotional problems (Olweus, 1993).  Bullying is a term that describes a wide range of unacceptable behaviours.  A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, regularly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more persons (Olweus, 1993).  

The two research articles I have chosen for this literature review are drawn from multiple methods which I think compliment each other and bring different strengths and challenges to my findings.  The third article is an editorial piece from a Canadian newspaper which relates to the same theme - Bullying.

In this essay I will explore the articles from both a naturalistic and experimental-type inquiry.  Then I will examine the rationale that led to the author’s approach, and look at the theoretical perspective and philosophical assumptions that underlies both research articles.  Next, I will also comment on cultural issues and ethical considerations in my review.  I will refer to the following journal items as:  Article One - “Does bullying cause emotional problems?  A prospective study of young teenagers”(Bond, Carlin, Thomas, Rubin, and Patton 2001); Article Two - “A Qualitative Study of Bullying from Multiple Perspectives” (Mishna, 2003); and, Article Three - “Bullies push their victims to suicide” (The Globe and Mail, 2000).

Article One is an Australian based study which was conducted by a team of researchers from two different hospitals, who were working collectively to examine whether bullying was the cause of emotional problems in young teenagers. The setting was in several Secondary schools in Victoria, Australia.  Article Two is a Canadian based study, which was researched by one person using methods to investigate bullying from many perspectives including the victimized children, to their parents, to educators.  Children in Grades 4 and 5 were part of the study.   Article Three talks about the cases of two British Columbia 14 year olds, who commit suicide, as a result of continuous bullying at school.

The definition of bullying include the imbalance of power; the repetitive nature of the act; the intention of harm; and the lack of justification for the act.   These are often interrelated and include:

  • Physical bullying, such as hitting, kicking, tripping, punching, stealing or damaging belongings (Olweus, 1993);
  • Verbal bullying, including name calling, insulting, teasing, threatening, sexual harassment, racist remarks (Olweus, 1993); and
  • Psychological bullying, including spreading rumours, dirty looks, stalking, isolating someone by preventing others from befriending them (Olweus, 1993).
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The above is the common theme which is found in Articles One, Two, and Three, and very similar to other literature on bullying.

My particular interest in exploring bullying was raised from reading various newspaper articles on children who have committed suicide because they have been the victim of bullying in their schools. I was saddened by these stories and it had prompted my motivation to increase my knowledge about the nature, the extent and consequences of bullying.  Furthermore, my 11 year old nephew was a victim of bullying in his school and it hurt me to see ...

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