Bullying and Bullies in Greek Elementary Schools: Pupils' attitudes and teachers'/parents' awareness

Abstract

Differences in attitudes and feelings toward bullies and bullying behaviour were investigated among 1312 pupils between 8 and 12 years of age in the greater Athens area, Greece, who completed a self-report bullying inventory. Pupils' perceptions of teachers' and parents' awareness of bullying were also examined. Fifteen per cent of bullies reported feeling 'nothing special' when they witness a bullying incident, while fewer bullies than victims reported that 'it is very unpleasant'. More boys than girls understood why some pupils bully and reported that they like bullies because they are 'cool'. According to pupils' reports teachers have talked significantly less than parents to victims and bullies/victims about bullying. Furthermore, approximately half of the pupils claimed that they do not know whether teachers are aware of bullying behaviour. It is concluded that teachers, pupils and school communities need to become sensitised to the phenomenon of bullying.