The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis

In this article, the perceptions of preadolescent children (ages 9–11) regarding factors that influence and protect against power imbalance associated with covert aggression and bullying are explored. In aggression research, the term covert has been typically used to describe relational, indirect, a...

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Main Authors: Nelson, Helen, Burns, Sharyn, Kendall, Garth, Schonert-Reichl, K.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Sage Publications 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69699
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author Nelson, Helen
Burns, Sharyn
Kendall, Garth
Schonert-Reichl, K.
author_facet Nelson, Helen
Burns, Sharyn
Kendall, Garth
Schonert-Reichl, K.
author_sort Nelson, Helen
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description In this article, the perceptions of preadolescent children (ages 9–11) regarding factors that influence and protect against power imbalance associated with covert aggression and bullying are explored. In aggression research, the term covert has been typically used to describe relational, indirect, and social acts of aggression that are hidden. These behaviors contrast with overt physical and verbal aggression. Children have previously conveyed their belief that covert aggression is harmful because adults do not see it even though children, themselves, are aware. We used focus groups to explore children’s understanding of covert aggression and to identify children’s experience and perception of adult support in relation to bullying. Thematic analysis supported the definition of covert aggression as that which is intentionally hidden from adults. Friendship, social exclusion, and secret from teacher were identified as factors that influence power imbalance, while support from friends and adult support protected against power imbalance.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-696992019-01-29T01:57:45Z The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis Nelson, Helen Burns, Sharyn Kendall, Garth Schonert-Reichl, K. In this article, the perceptions of preadolescent children (ages 9–11) regarding factors that influence and protect against power imbalance associated with covert aggression and bullying are explored. In aggression research, the term covert has been typically used to describe relational, indirect, and social acts of aggression that are hidden. These behaviors contrast with overt physical and verbal aggression. Children have previously conveyed their belief that covert aggression is harmful because adults do not see it even though children, themselves, are aware. We used focus groups to explore children’s understanding of covert aggression and to identify children’s experience and perception of adult support in relation to bullying. Thematic analysis supported the definition of covert aggression as that which is intentionally hidden from adults. Friendship, social exclusion, and secret from teacher were identified as factors that influence power imbalance, while support from friends and adult support protected against power imbalance. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69699 10.1177/1059840517748417 Sage Publications restricted
spellingShingle Nelson, Helen
Burns, Sharyn
Kendall, Garth
Schonert-Reichl, K.
The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis
title The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis
title_full The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis
title_fullStr The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis
title_full_unstemmed The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis
title_short The Factors That Influence and Protect Against Power Imbalance in Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School: A Thematic Analysis
title_sort factors that influence and protect against power imbalance in covert bullying among preadolescent children at school: a thematic analysis
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69699