The nature, extent and impact of educator targeted bullying on school teachers in West Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This study examines the nature, prevalence and impact of educator targeted bullying (ETB) in a sample of 575 Malaysian school teachers. Specifically it was predicted that ethnicity may be related to exposure to ETB; that frequency of exposure would vary by type of ETB; that there would be tenure-related differences in terms of exposure and burnout; and that teaching experience could moderate the exposure-burnout relationship. Results suggest that less severe forms of ETB are more prevalent than physical forms; and that educators with increased teaching experience are less exposed to ETB. ETB exhibits a negative impact on burnout; and is strongest for student-related burnout. Increased experience buffers the ETB–student-related burnout relationship while ethnicity is unrelated to exposure to ETB.

KEYWORDS:

• Educator targeted bullying (ETB)
• bullying
• burnout
• schools
• teachers
• educators

Notes on contributors

Dr Angeli Santos is an associate professor in applied psychology at the Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology at the University of Nottingham. She has extensive research experience in the area of work-related violence and other antisocial behaviours such as bullying and deviance behaviour. Other research interests include the study of emotions at work, specifically emotional intelligence and emotional labour.

Jia Jian Tin graduated with an honours degree in Applied Psychology and Management Studies from the University of Nottingham in 2014. He is currently a research postgraduate student at Alliant International University, Fresno, California, pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.