PEER BULLYING AND COPING STRATEGIES IN CHILDREN: INSIGHTS FROM MAINSTREAM PRIMARY SCHOOLS

While peer bullying has become one of the most critical issues that today's education systems must address, the bullying experiences of primary school children and their coping strategies remain insufficiently understood. The present study sought to explore in depth whether mainstream primary school students are exposed to peer bullying and, if so, how they cope with this problem. Interviews were held with 13 Turkish primary school students (Mage=10.76), the majority of whom were victims, and one of them was a bully. The study group consisted of nine boys (Mage=10.88) and four girls (Mage=10.5). Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers. Among participants, physical bullying is experienced the most. It is followed by verbal and emotional bullying. No sexual bullying case was reported. Victims employed various coping strategies, most of which were individual-oriented, such as ignoring the bullying or warning the bullies. However, the most frequently reported strategies were adult-oriented, particularly involving class teachers. Familial (e.g., parental divorce), psychological (e.g., feelings of maternal abandonment), and socio-economic (e.g., financial hardship) challenges may underlie the emergence of bullying behaviours. Keywords: behaviour problems, children, coping strategies, peer bullying, primary school