The Impact of Interpersonal Bullying and Cyberbullying on School Avoidance

Kirsten Hutzell

Advisor: David B Wilson, PhD, Department of Criminology, Law and Society

Committee Members: David Weisburd, Devon Johnson, Allison Payne

Research Hall, #162
April 24, 2014, 12:00 PM to 09:00 AM

Abstract:

This dissertation examines the impact of bullying victimization on school avoidance. Using victim-centered adaptations of general strain theory and routine activity theory, this research proposes the following general hypotheses: (1) Net of other factors, students who have experienced bullying victimization are more likely to avoid places in school; (2) There are protective factors that will decrease the relationship between bullying victimization and avoidance behaviors, such as participation in school activities; and (3) There are aggravating factors that will increase the relationship between bullying victimization and avoidance behaviors, such as fighting.  Data for these analyses are derived from the 2011 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey.  The findings of this dissertation provide support for the overall effect of bullying victimization on school avoidance, such that students who have experienced overall bullying are more likely to avoid places in school.  Additionally, results suggest that participation in school activities can decrease the relationship between bullying victimization and school avoidance and that fear can increase this relationship.  These results seek to highlight the pervasiveness of bullying victimization in schools, as well as the protective and aggravating factors that impact upon the relationship between bullying victimization and avoidance behaviors, in order to provide further support for the development of prevention and intervention programs to mediate bully/victim issues.