2024 Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 236-240
[Purpose]
In recent years, cases of violent behavior and bullying among elementary and junior high school students have scored the highest in school settings in Japan. However, the impact of disruptive behavioral symptoms, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems on violent behavior and bullying have not been examined. This study investigated the rates of violent behavior and bullying among elementary and junior high school students using an online survey of parent ratings. It also examined the effects of disruptive behavior symptoms, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems on violent behavior and bullying.
[Methods]
Data from an online survey of 1,800 parents or guardians with children in Grades 1–9 were used. The age of parents (guardians) was 43.33 ± 6.18 years (44.1% men, 55.9% women), and that of their children was 10.67 ± 2.63 years (52.3% men, 47.7% women). The present study used parent-reported data on the presence or absence of violent behavior, bullying (perpetration and victimization), disruptive behavior symptoms (inattentiveness, hyperactivity, oppositional defiance, and conduct symptoms), internalizing problems, and externalizing problems in children and adolescents.
[Results]
The rate of violent behavior per month was 5.72%, whereas the rate of bullying per month was 0.94% for perpetration and 3.06% for victimization. The results indicated that inattentive symptoms affected violent behavior and bullying (victimization); oppositional defiant symptoms affected violent behavior and bullying (perpetration); and conduct symptoms affected violent behavior and bullying (perpetration and victimization). Internalizing problems affected both bullying perpetration and victimization. Conversely, externalizing problems affected both bullying (perpetration and victimization).
[Discussion/Conclusion]
This study revealed that disruptive behavioral symptoms, as well as internalizing and externalizing problems, were related to violent behavior and bullying among elementary and junior high school students. Based on these results, further research needed to explore effective treatment and prevention strategies for violent behavior and bullying among elementary and junior high school students.
