Bullying: Health Concerns of Australian Secondary School Students

In Australia while adult-adult and adult-child violence has been recognised and legislated against, the issue of child-child violence has not been taken seriously. In the present paper consideration is given to Australian and overseas research which highlights the extent of the problem amongst secondary school students and the effects of peer group victimisation on the health of both the perpetrator and victim. In this study of 220 secondary school students 8.14% reported being bullied ‘once a week or more’. Bullying was associated with poorer health status amongst the victims, both boys and girls, and with poorer health in girls who showed a tendency to bully. The findings were discussed in terms of the need for early intervention and counselling of those caught up in the bully/victim cycle.