Abstract
Involvement in ‘traditional’ (face-to-face) bully/victim problems at school has been
linked to impaired health and well-being, a reduction in educational attainment,
long-term relationship and intimacy issues, and potential involvement in anti-social
and criminal activity. ‘Traditional’ bullying can take many different forms including
physical aggression such as hitting, kicking and shoving as well as relational/indirect
bullying which may be in the form of social exclusion or isolation from a peer
group.This Research Update adds to this important knowledge on bullying in
primary schools by presenting data collected as part of the first two Kids’
Life and Times (KLT) surveys (2008 and 2009). All of the children were in the final
year of primary school (Primary 7) and completed the survey online in school.
The questions about bullying allowed for comparison with previous research from
Northern Ireland as well as international research in the area. The children taking
part in KLT also completed the 27-item KIDSCREEN (The KIDSCREEN Group
Europe, 2006), which is a health-related quality of life measure exploring physical
well-being, psychological well-being, feelings about autonomy and parents,
peers and social support, and school environment.
