Date Approved

5-6-1997

Embargo Period

8-30-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School Psychology

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Dihoff, Roberta

Subject(s)

Bullying; School children--Attitudes; School children--Substance use

Disciplines

Educational Psychology

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is the extent of school bulling in southern New Jersey as measured by an adapted version of the Olweus Bully Questionnaire. The students (n=232) surveyed were fourth and fifth graders in a suburban community in southern New Jersey. It was found that 11% of fourth graders and 15% of fifth graders surveyed self-report bullying other students. It was also found that 20% of fourth and fifth graders surveyed indicated that they had been bullied. These percentages matched the trends found by Olweus in Norway. Students in southern New Jersey were also surveyed on their attitudes toward and the availability of alcohol and other drugs. Self-reported bullies had significantly more favorable attitudes toward and greater accessibility to alcohol and other drugs than their nonbully peers using a chi-square analysis. It was concluded that one in four students in southern New Jersey is involved in bully/victim interactions. Intervention and prevention program are reviewed.

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