Prevalence and nature of bullying in schools of Bangladesh: A pilot study

Md Zahir Ahmed; Oli Ahmed; Fatema Akhter Hiramoni

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07415

Prevalence and nature of bullying in schools of Bangladesh: A pilot study

Heliyon. 2021 Jun 25;7(6):e07415. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07415. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Md Zahir Ahmed¹, Oli Ahmed², Fatema Akhter Hiramoni³

Affiliations

¹ Policy Research Centre.bd, House-43, Road-5, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
² Department of Psychology, University of Chittagong, Chattogram-4331, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Economics, Sheikh Hasina University, Netrokona-2400, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Bullying at schools is considered as the most contemptible anti-social behavior for students (Neto, 2005). There is little information about the prevalence and nature of bullying victimization experiences among Bangladeshi school students. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and nature of bullying experienced by Bangladeshi school students. A sample of 556 students were surveyed utilizing the translated Bangla version of the Multidimensional Bullying Victimization Scale. Nearly half of the participants were bullying victims in schools over the last year. Results showed that the most commonly experienced forms of bullying were pushing or shoving, being made fun of, and having rumours spread. Students who were boys, from public schools, and lived in urban areas had significantly higher bullying victimization experiences. Findings of this present study would be helpful for the policymakers and other stakeholders to reform anti-bullying policies and appoint school psychologists to ascertain positive behavior and eliminate bullying entirely.

Keywords: Elimination; Intervention; Prevalence; School bullying; Violence.