Bullying’s Negative Effect on Academic Achievement

Abstract

Bullying's a phenomenon that carries great harm for those involved (bully or victim alike) in which academic achievement is harmed as well. However, the strength of such impact is yet to be clarified, existing many possibilities to explore. Or in other words, many variables that can justify such connection - classroom behavior being one example. The goal of the present investigation is to study the impact that bullying (while mediated by the classroom behavior) has on the academic achievement. The sample consisted of 288 children (from 1st year to 4th year’s students); and their teachers (whom reported their classroom behavior). Results showed that the bullying situation itself, didn’t significantly explain the academic achievement of those involved. However, from classroom behavior it was found an indirect effect between bullying and academic achievement. Within classroom behavior, the main contributive dimensions were - victim related, the excessive motor activity; and bully related, oppositional behaviors, excessive motor activity and ADHD index. This results alert to the importance of the educational agents’ attention given to the existing behavior in their classrooms. Not only because of the disruption created in each classroom’s environment, but also as a possible sign of an involvement in the existing bullying dynamics.

Keywords

• Bully
• victim
• classroom behavior
• academic achievement
• ADHD