Maternal Insights into Bullying Types and Effective Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Jordanian Schools

Abstract

Among children with special needs, those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more susceptible to school bullying, due to communication challenges. In this study, the severity and types of school bullying, mainly physical, verbal, and social, experienced by children with ASD were identified and assessed from their mothers’ perspectives in Jordan. Additionally, the mothers’ levels of agreement with a set of anti-bullying interventions targeted at preventing bullying or attenuating its adverse consequences on children with ASD were evaluated. The results revealed that verbal and physical bullying were the most common types of school bullying experienced by children with ASD. Furthermore, the frequency of bullying has not been correlated to gender or school type; however, children in primary school experienced a higher frequency of school bullying. The results also revealed a set of proposed anti-bullying interventions that received a high level of agreement from the mothers. These interventions include arranging for various training sessions and programs targeted to children with ASD and their mothers to guide them on handling bullying and assigning specialists at schools to evaluate, monitor, and prevent bullying behaviors and support bullied students. Such interventions are considered promising opportunities for addressing school bullying among children with ASD.