ERIC Number: EJ1055858
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Sep
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1045-3830
EISSN: N/A
School Climate and Bullying Victimization: A Latent Class Growth Model Analysis
Gage, Nicholas A.; Prykanowski, Debra A.; Larson, Alvin
School Psychology Quarterly, v29 n3 p256-271 Sep 2014
Researchers investigating school-level approaches for bullying prevention are beginning to discuss and target school climate as a construct that (a) may predict prevalence and (b) be an avenue for school-wide intervention efforts (i.e., increasing positive school climate). Although promising, research has not fully examined and established the social-ecological link between school climate factors and bullying/peer aggression. To address this gap, we examined the association between school climate factors and bullying victimization for 4,742 students in Grades 3-12 across 3 school years in a large, very diverse urban school district using latent class growth modeling. Across 3 different models (elementary, secondary, and transition to middle school), a 3-class model was identified, which included students at high-risk for bullying victimization. Results indicated that, for all students, respect for diversity and student differences (e.g., racial diversity) predicted within-class decreases in reports of bullying. High-risk elementary students reported that adult support in school was a significant predictor of within-class reduction of bullying, and high-risk secondary students report peer support as a significant predictor of within-class reduction of bullying.
Descriptors: Educational Environment, Bullying, Victims, Statistical Analysis, Aggression, Peer Groups, Correlation, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students, Urban Areas, School Districts, At Risk Students, Student Diversity, Racial Differences, Prediction, Student Attitudes, Teacher Student Relationship, School Safety, Student School Relationship, Student Characteristics, Factor Structure, Factor Analysis, Regression (Statistics)
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A