Understanding ecological factors associated with bullying across the elementary to middle school transition in the United States

Dorothy L. Espelage, Jun Sung Hong, Mrinalini A. Rao, Robert Thornberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examines sociodemographic characteristics and social-environmental factors associated with bullying during the elementary to middle school transition from a sample of 5th-grade students (n = 300) in 3 elementary schools at Time 1. Of these, 237 participated at Time 2 as 6th-grade students. Using cluster analyses, we found groups of students who reported no increase in bullying, some decrease in bullying, and some increase in bullying. Students who reported increases in bullying also reported decreases in school belongingness and teacher affiliation and increases in teacher dissatisfaction. Students who reported decreases in bullying also reported decreases in victimization. These findings suggest that changes across the transition in students' relations to school and their teachers are predictive of changes in bullying.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)470-487
Number of pages18
JournalViolence and Victims
Volume30
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Bullying
  • Cluster analysis
  • Early adolescence
  • Middle school
  • Transition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Health(social science)
  • Law

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