Adolescents’ Willingness to Seek Help for Bullying Problems
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Date
2007-09
Authors
Boudreau, Ainsley M.
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Abstract
The study examined adolescents’ willingness to seek help from peer,
parent/guardian and teacher/professional helpers in physical, verbal and relational
bullying situations. Questionnaire data were collected from 169 students (M age= 13.7
years, SD = 1.01; 88 females, 81 males). Factorial and Univariate Analyses of Variance
(ANOVAs) were conducted to examine differences across gender, grade, school location,
family status, recent experience with bullying and previous help-seeking. Results
revealed significant main effects of previous help-seeking, school location, family
structure, and Helper x Gender interactions. With respect to gender differences, females
were significantly more willing to seek help from friends for bullying than males. It was
also found that adolescents’ willingness to seek help for bullying varies based on type of
bullying, helper, and previous help-seeking. Adolescents living with a father or living in a
rural community were also more willing to seek help. Results are discussed in terms of
the impact of these variables upon adolescents’ willingness to seek help.
Description
Keywords
Cape Breton Island , Adolescence , Adjustment Psychology , Psychology , Abused teenagers , Help-seeking behavior , Psychological aspects , Nova Scotia , Schools , Bullying