Brief report: types of bullying among Italian school children

Abstract

The main aim of this research was to investigate the prevalence of bullies and victims and the types and places of bullying. A questionnaire on bullying was completed by 113 girls and 125 boys in a middle school in Rome (aged 11-14 years). Over half of all students had bullied others in the previous 3 months, and nearly half had been bullied. Boys bullied more than girls, and both boys and girls tended to be bullied by boys. Boys were more likely to suffer direct bullying such as being threatened or physically hurt. Most of the bullying took place in the classroom; boys were likely to be bullied in the toilet.