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An Analysis of the Effects of Bodies, Rurality, and Social Capital on Physical Bullying

Bush, Tiffany
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2149-317X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1618610230505902

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Sociology (Arts and Sciences).
The problem of bullying has received increased social and empirical interest in recent years. As such, there is a wide array of valuable information presented in the academic literature on bullying practices. Research demonstrates that gender, race, weight, and geographic location are separately linked to bullying victimization and perpetration. While previous studies have examined gendered bullying behaviors, and the impact of the aforementioned demographic variables, little is known about the interaction of these factors in relation to victimization and perpetration of bullying at school. This study investigates how gender, weight, race, geographic location and social capital can influence and predict the probability and frequency rate of physical bullying practices. The current study uses the theoretical frameworks of social dominance theory and socio-ecological theory to evaluate the extent to which demographic variables can impact physical bullying perpetration and victimization. This research utilizes survey data from the 2009-2010 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) data to investigate how bodies (i.e., gender, race, and weight), geographic location (i.e., rural, urban, and suburban areas), and social capital matter with regard to youth physical bullying victimization and perpetration. The findings show that increased social capital, perceptions of school, and engagement in physical fights can increase the likelihood and frequency of physical bullying perpetration. Boys and girls that have more friends, spend more time with their peers, enjoy school, and engage in physical fights are more likely to physically bully others than students who do not have a lot of friends, do not enjoy school, and do not engage in physical fights. Additionally, students who have low social capital, negative relationships with their parents, but still engage in physical fights are likely to be victims of physical bullying. Interestingly, when examining race, weight, and gender separately, there are few significant relationships between them and physical bullying perpetration. However, the findings indicate that interactions of gender, race, weight, and geographic location are linked to school bullying victimization and perpetration. These findings indicate that the factors that can impact physical bullying practices are more complex and may actually be intersectional in nature. These findings provide important new insights regarding physical bullying, specifically. Researchers will find this information useful for future research on bullying, and practitioners may find it useful in developing programs and policies that address bullying.
Anna Terman (Committee Chair)
Thomas Vander Ven (Committee Member)
Howard Welser (Committee Member)
132 p.
Gender; Gender Studies; Sociology
physical bullying; gender; social capital; rural vs urban; gendered bullying

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bush, T. (2021). An Analysis of the Effects of Bodies, Rurality, and Social Capital on Physical Bullying [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1618610230505902

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bush, Tiffany. An Analysis of the Effects of Bodies, Rurality, and Social Capital on Physical Bullying. 2021. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1618610230505902.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bush, Tiffany. "An Analysis of the Effects of Bodies, Rurality, and Social Capital on Physical Bullying." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1618610230505902

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1618610230505902
240
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.