Bullying/Cyberbullying in Secondary Education: A Comparison Between Secondary Schools in Rural and Urban Contexts

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of the study us to analyze the difference of bullying (traditional bullying and cyberbullying) in rural and urban contexts. A total of 1094 junior and senior high school students (62.5% from urban areas, 37.6% from rural areas) from the region of Castile-La Mancha (Spain) took part herein. The results showed a similar proportion of intervention in all bullying roles and in polybullying in urban and rural context schools. However, victimization and physical bullying perpetration is more frequent in schools in urban areas. In rural schools, aggression is normally aimed at schoolmates. Regression showed the link between context and perpetration role. Victims in rural settings expressed greater distress than victims in schools in urban areas. These results indicate that the size of the population where the schools are located may be a relevant factor for the intervention, as well as the need for intervention at individual, group and community level in collaboration between schools and social services.