Published
June 21, 2026
| Pages: 683-696 | Views: 90
Abstract
School bullying is a complex social issue that manifests in various forms within school communities and has serious consequences for both individuals involved and the overall functioning of school life. This study, part of a broader research initiative, examines the perspectives of primary school principals regarding the frequency of different forms of bullying in the school environment. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, involving 512 principals in the quantitative phase and 21 in the qualitative phase. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The results indicated that the most frequently occurring forms of bullying in schools include verbal bullying, non-verbal behaviors, emotional abuse, and the spreading of mild rumors. In contrast, severe forms of bullying such as severe racism, sexual and cyberbullying, serious physical aggression, and high-intensity social exclusion were reported as rare. This study contributes to understanding principals' perspectives on the prevalence of different forms of bullying, providing valuable insights for enhancing prevention efforts and effectively managing such issues within the school context.
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Keywords
School bullying, Forms of bullying, Primary education, School principals
Affiliations
Theodoros Thanos
Department of Early Childhood Education University of Ioannina, Greece
Apostolos Katsikas
Department of Education, School of Education, University of Nicosia, 2417, Nicosia, Cyprus
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