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Greek Adolescents’ Victimization Experiences, Reactions, Ability to Cope and Sense of School Safety
Current Issue
Volume 2, 2015
Issue 2 (April)
Pages: 41-51   |   Vol. 2, No. 2, April 2015   |   Follow on         
Paper in PDF Downloads: 69   Since Aug. 28, 2015 Views: 2371   Since Aug. 28, 2015
Authors
[1]
Eleni Didaskalou, Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Argonafton & Filellinon, Volos, Greece.
[2]
Christina J. Roussi – Vergou, University of Thessaly, University of Thessaly, Argonafton & Filellinon, Volos, Greece.
[3]
Eleni Andreou, Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, University of Thessaly, Argonafton & Filellinon, Volos, Greece.
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to offer a thorough picture concerning the prevalence of victimization in Greek secondary schools, and the students’ reactions on witnessing bully/victim incidents, their perceived sense of school safety and ability to cope with victimization experiences. Over 800 secondary education students participated in the study. 10% of them reported that they were seriously bullied, while victimization was more sharply evident among boys and students whose Greek was not their native language. More than half reported that they were knowledgeable about what they should do for terminating their victimization. One in ten students admitted not feeling safe at school, while a strong negative statistically significant association was identified between students' sense of safety and the reported incidence of victimization experiences. Overall, students reported high levels of coping competence on witnessing bully/victim incidents. Implications of the study for school-wide effective anti-bullying interventions are briefly discussed.
Keywords
Adolescents, Coping, School Safety, Victimization Experiences
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