Teacher Victimization in the U.S.: Measuring and Understanding Prevalence

• In Event: Patterns and Trends in Victimization Risk

Abstract

Empirical studies investigating teachers’ victimization within school systems have found that teacher victimization by students is ubiquitous across cultures and countries. Additionally, victimized teachers are more likely to report physical/psychological distress and higher levels of fear at school. Despite the seriousness of the issue, surprisingly few empirical studies have been conducted to understand the prevalence of teacher victimization in the United States. Using a sample of approximately 2,000 teachers in a southwestern city of the United State, the current study explores the prevalence of teacher victimization by students, including victimization by physical assault, sexual abuse, verbal threat/abuse, online bullying, in-person bullying, and non-physical contact aggressive behavior.

Authors

• Byongook Moon, University of Texas at San Antonio

• John McCluskey, Rochester Institute of Technology