The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study

Research about bullying among school pupils in the Arab/Muslim population is scarce. This study evaluates the characteristics of bullying and its impact among school pupils in Oman via cross-sectional survey among eighth grade school pupils (n = 1,229) during the academic year 2006-2007. The partici...

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Main Authors: Muna Al-Saadoon, Yahya M. Al-Farsi, Syed Rizvi, Marwan Al-Sharbati, Abdullah Al-Jabri, Sufyan Almamari, Wafaa Al-Baluki, Samir Al-Adawi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/169737
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author Muna Al-Saadoon
Yahya M. Al-Farsi
Syed Rizvi
Marwan Al-Sharbati
Abdullah Al-Jabri
Sufyan Almamari
Wafaa Al-Baluki
Samir Al-Adawi
author_facet Muna Al-Saadoon
Yahya M. Al-Farsi
Syed Rizvi
Marwan Al-Sharbati
Abdullah Al-Jabri
Sufyan Almamari
Wafaa Al-Baluki
Samir Al-Adawi
author_sort Muna Al-Saadoon
collection DOAJ
description Research about bullying among school pupils in the Arab/Muslim population is scarce. This study evaluates the characteristics of bullying and its impact among school pupils in Oman via cross-sectional survey among eighth grade school pupils (n = 1,229) during the academic year 2006-2007. The participants were selected using stratified random selection among 6 administrative divisions of one the governorates in the country. Data were collected using self-completed structured questionnaires. This study found similar percentages of males and females (76%) have experienced one form of bullying, and the majority of the incidents (80%) occurred in the vicinity of the school. In almost half of the cases, the bullying was initiated by a student of the same age or older than the victim. The most common type of bullying encountered in this study was verbal (47.7%), followed by misuse (45.9%), physical (43.9%), and, finally, social isolation/exclusion (22.5%). Although the failure of an academic year was uncommon among victims of bullying, the number of pupils who missed 4–6 and ≥7 school days was higher among bullied pupils. If this study will withstand further research, educational initiatives are needed to mitigate the rate of bullying in Oman.
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spelling doaj-art-efe5ca4dffac48229e3d295233abaaa02025-08-20T02:22:03ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/169737169737The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional StudyMuna Al-Saadoon0Yahya M. Al-Farsi1Syed Rizvi2Marwan Al-Sharbati3Abdullah Al-Jabri4Sufyan Almamari5Wafaa Al-Baluki6Samir Al-Adawi7Department of Child Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Al-Khoudh, 123 Muscat, OmanCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Al-Khoudh, 123 Muscat, OmanResearch about bullying among school pupils in the Arab/Muslim population is scarce. This study evaluates the characteristics of bullying and its impact among school pupils in Oman via cross-sectional survey among eighth grade school pupils (n = 1,229) during the academic year 2006-2007. The participants were selected using stratified random selection among 6 administrative divisions of one the governorates in the country. Data were collected using self-completed structured questionnaires. This study found similar percentages of males and females (76%) have experienced one form of bullying, and the majority of the incidents (80%) occurred in the vicinity of the school. In almost half of the cases, the bullying was initiated by a student of the same age or older than the victim. The most common type of bullying encountered in this study was verbal (47.7%), followed by misuse (45.9%), physical (43.9%), and, finally, social isolation/exclusion (22.5%). Although the failure of an academic year was uncommon among victims of bullying, the number of pupils who missed 4–6 and ≥7 school days was higher among bullied pupils. If this study will withstand further research, educational initiatives are needed to mitigate the rate of bullying in Oman.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/169737
spellingShingle Muna Al-Saadoon
Yahya M. Al-Farsi
Syed Rizvi
Marwan Al-Sharbati
Abdullah Al-Jabri
Sufyan Almamari
Wafaa Al-Baluki
Samir Al-Adawi
The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
The Scientific World Journal
title The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort magnitude and impact of bullying among school pupils in muscat oman a cross sectional study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/169737
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