Bullying Involvement, Psychosocial Outcomes, and Teacher-Student Relationships

• In Event: 18.065 - The Role of Bullying and Teacher-Student Relationships in Secondary Students' Health and Achievement

Abstract

Bullying in schools is a serious public health concern. However, less is known about the role of positive teacher-student (TS) relationships and how this may ameliorate some of the negative outcomes experienced by victimized students. Although TS relationships are part of building a supportive school climate, the current study investigated the role TS relationships may play as a protective factor for bullied students. Using teacher- and student-reported measures collected from 1,042 students and 85 teachers (6-8th grade), regression analyses suggested that bullied students experienced greater depression, concentration problems, and internalizing behaviors compared to nonvictimized students. Students who reported having more positive TS relationships reported less depression and concentration problems though was not associated with internalizing problems.

Authors

• Francis Howard Lim Huang, University of Missouri

• Crystal Lewis, University of Missouri

• Dan Cohen, University of Missouri

• Keith Herman, University of Missouri