ERIC Number: EJ743126
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 21
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0016-9862
EISSN: N/A
Bullying and the Gifted
Peterson, Jean Sunde; Ray, Karen E.
Gifted Child Quarterly, v50 n2 p148-168 Spr 2006
Gifted eighth graders (N=432) in 11 U.S. states participated in a retrospective national study that explored the prevalence and effects of being bullied and being a bully during kindergarten through grade 8. No significant differences were found related to size of city, race/ethnicity, and geographical region in terms of either being bullied or being a bully. Sixty-seven percent of all participants had experienced at least 1 of 13 kinds of bullying listed on the survey, more in grade 6 than in other grades, and 11% had experienced repeated bullying. Name-calling and teasing about appearance were the most common kinds of bullying, and the latter was among several kinds of bullying significantly related to emotional impact. In grade 8, 16% were bullies, and 29% had violent thoughts. At all grade levels, a larger percentage of males than females were bullied, were bullied more than 10 times, and were bullies. Putting the Research to Use: This study provides information to parents, school personnel, and counselors that can be useful when advocating for the safety and well-being of gifted students. The reality that many victims apparently do not report incidents to adults at school or at home means that parents, teachers, and counselors should keep bullying in mind when attempting to ascertain why a child expresses hopelessness, appears uncomfortable in school, withdraws socially, becomes hypervigilant, or has problems eating or sleeping. Direct questions about bullying (e.g., "Have you ever seen someone being bullied?" "Have you ever been bullied?"), including references to a wide range of bullying behaviors (e.g., "Have you ever seen a student threaten someone?"), may generate important revelations. Open-ended questions are best for generating conversation without provoking defensiveness (e.g., "Tell me about recess, the lunchroom, lining up for the bus. How do the kids behave when they're not in the classroom?" "How do you fell when you're on your way to school in the morning?"). Teachers, in the classroom and when supervising elsewhere, need to consider bullying broadly, watch for both overt and subtle bullying, which the study found to be associated with gifted bullies, and intervene immediately. Proactive psychoeducational curriculum for young gifted children and others, as well, can encourage pro-social behavior and enhance coping and general interpersonal skills.
Descriptors: Grade 8, Academically Gifted, Bullying, Gender Differences, Psychoeducational Methods, Student Behavior, Antisocial Behavior, Racial Differences, Geographic Location, Child Safety, Peer Relationship, Student Characteristics, Emotional Response
National Association for Gifted Children. 1707 L Street NW Suite 550, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-785-4268; Fax: 202-785-4248; e-mail: nagc@nagc.org; Web site: http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=34&pb.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 8
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A