School victimisation of disadvantaged children and association with depression and health related quality of life: The Baseline picture

Background: While bullying victimisation research in primary and post-primary schools is plentiful, investigation into victimisation rates and associated correlates within disadvantaged primary schools is negligible. Aims... [ view full abstract ]

Background: While bullying victimisation research in primary and post-primary schools is plentiful, investigation into victimisation rates and associated correlates within disadvantaged primary schools is negligible.

Aims and objectives of the study: The aim of this paper is to present analysis of baseline data from the longitudinal ‘Healthy Schools’ programme. Specifically, the effects of school victimisation on depression levels and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)

Method: A quantitative, comparative survey design was used, with a sample of 458 children from DEIS-Band 1 primary schools in the greater Dublin region. Ethical approval was obtained from the author’s institution. Incidences of victimisation were analysed, employing both a general measure of victimisation, and specific questions on bullying behaviours (e.g. Teasing, Name calling). In addition, victimisation rates were categorised and differences were explored with regard depression and HRQoL.

Findings: Frequency of victimisation (33.8%) was relatively consistent with current literature in Irish primary school. As expected, victimisation predicted higher scores on depression (p< .001) and lower scores on all five subscales of HRQoL, Physical Well-being (p = .044), Psychological Well-being (p < .001), Autonomy and Parent Relations (p = .015), Social Support and Peer Relations (p < .001), and School Environment (p = .027).

Conclusions and Implications: Interesting discussion points from the baseline data include the consistency of victimisation trends compared to current trends in general primary school victimisation literature. Moreover, the large differences in depression and HRQoL across victimisation categories is a cause for concern.