Manifestations, Detection and Approach to Bullying and Cyberbullying from the Teachers’ Perspective: A Mixed Study in Spanish School Contexts

Bullying and cyberbullying were the focus of analysis in this study. The purpose of the study was to explore teachers’ perceptions, experiences and strategies in relation to these issues, as well as their training needs. A convergent mixed-methods design was used, consisting of a quantitative questionnaire applied to 224 teachers, 12 semi-structured interviews and a field diary. Quantitative results indicated a high level of awareness of the seriousness of bullying, but a lower perception of self-efficacy in its detection and intervention, especially in digital contexts. The internal reliability of the measured dimensions was high (α > 0.85) and differences were identified according to gender and professional experience. At the qualitative level, diverse meanings of bullying, intuitive teaching practices, institutional barriers and specific demands for applied training were evident. Triangulation confirmed the coherence between sources and revealed the need for a strong institutional architecture to support teaching. It was concluded that teachers require resources, support and ongoing training to take a proactive role in bullying prevention and intervention.