American International Journal of Social Science

Effects of Elementary School Students’ Gender and Grade Level on Bullying
Glenn L. Koonce, Shauna S. Mayo

Abstract
As the nation continues to focus on the issue of bullying in our schools, more than 160,000 students miss school each day because of bullies. School principals, both elementary and secondary, are being called on to respond to bullying in their schools. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects that gender and grade level have on bullying in one particular elementary school setting. Students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 in one school in central Virginia (N = 103) were surveyed using the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire about their experiences with bullying either as a victim or as a bully. Quantitative data collected from the survey yielded statistical results indicating that gender and grade level were not significant factors affecting bullying in this particular setting. Moreover, findings from this study reflect the need for a well-structured antibullying intervention. The findings from this study will assist school administrators as well as teachers, and other community stakeholders as they work to resolve and eliminate incidents of bullying while continuing to meet the need of all students by ensuring they are educated in a safe, nurturing environment.

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