Bullying of Students by Teachers and Peers and Its Effect on the Psychological Well-Being of Students in Jamaican Schools

Abstract

In this study, 225 Jamaican university students were asked to recall their bullying experiences at elementary and high schools. Being verbally humiliated, robbed, and beaten were the top three frequently-occurring experiences. Acts of bullying by peers and educators were compared for their impact on students' psychological well being. Educator but not peer bullying was associated with specific outcomes including students becoming oppositional, losing trust in others, and being depressed. Outcomes also differed according to the gender of the student and perpetrator. Contextual reasons for school bullying are discussed in relation to levels of violence in a society along with suggestions for future research that can aid in informing school policies.