Examining Gender Differences in Bullying Experiences and Coping Through the Lens of General Strain Theory

• In Event: Roundtable: Offending and Victimization in Schools: Risk Factors and Theory

Abstract

Research indicates that school bullying represents an important strain that affects negative emotions and deviant coping. School bullying represents an important type of strain because it usually occurs frequently, over a long period of time, and is an intentional violation against another person. Furthermore, general strain theory has been shown to be a viable explanation of gender differences in deviant and criminal behavior. This study utilizes a sample of 1,994 school-aged youth from the National Crime Victimization Survey: School Crime Supplement, 2011 and 2013 data, to assess gender differences in bullying victimization and how gender affects fear and coping behaviors. First, this study tests whether gender differences exist in types of bullying victimization such as direct bullying or indirect bullying with the expectation that females will experience more indirect bullying than males. The study then examines whether these similarities or differences persist online versus traditional in-person bullying. Next, this study examines gender differences in fear and copying such as avoiding places or bringing weapons to school in 2013, controlling for bullying victimization from 2011. The study concludes with a discussion of the policy implications.

Author

• Shelley Keith, University of Memphis