Search Results (67)

Based on attachment theory and the McMaster family functioning model, this study explores the protective role and mechanisms of a caring parenting style in protecting adolescents from bullying, from the perspective of the family environment. Study 1, conducted in Southwest China with middle school students (n = 4582), investigates the relationship between a caring parenting style and adolescent bullying victimization through a large-scale cross-sectional survey. The results show that both parents’ caring parenting styles are significantly negatively correlated with adolescent bullying victimization. Study 2, a two-wave study (n = 302), explores the protective mechanisms of a caring parenting style in adolescent bullying victimization. We not only observed again that a caring parenting style significantly negatively predicts bullying victimization but also found that family functioning and constructive conflict resolution play a chain-mediating role in this relationship. This finding not only supports the core hypothesis of attachment theory regarding the role of a secure base but also expands the theoretical model of bullying protection from a family ecological perspective by revealing a three-level transmission mechanism of parenting style–family system–individual capability, providing a theoretical anchor for the construction of a “family–school” collaborative intervention framework. Full article

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a digital escape room designed according to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles as an educational tool to raise awareness about school bullying and cyberbullying in lower secondary education. Using a quasi-experimental design with 137 students (66 in the control group and 71 in the experimental group), the gamified activity was compared to a traditional expository intervention. Empathy was measured using the Brief Basic Empathy Scale (BES-B), and bullying-related knowledge and experiences were assessed with the SPB-A scale. The escape room integrated key UDL principles, including multiple means of representation (e.g., video, images, text), action and expression (interactive tasks and puzzles), and engagement (narrative-based missions and collaborative challenges). The results indicate significant improvements in knowledge about behaviors related to school bullying among participants who completed the escape room. Although changes in affective and cognitive empathy were not statistically significant, positive trends were observed in the experimental group. The immersive, collaborative, and accessible nature of the activity positions the escape room as a promising tool within broader strategies for bullying prevention. Full article

(1) Background: Sexual harassment in the workplace is a problem that particularly affects women and is not an exception in the world of work. Factors such as power asymmetry, the predominantly masculinized culture in many organizations, and the potential impunity of perpetrators increase the associated risks. This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire-Workplace (SEQ-W) to measure sexual harassment at work and assess its validity in Spanish. (2) Methods: A total of 120 active female workers (67.5% European and 32.5% South American) participated, completing validated instruments to measure sexual harassment, workplace bullying, self-perceived health, and job satisfaction. The questionnaires were administered online, ensuring anonymity and explaining the study’s objectives. (3) Results: An exploratory factor analysis revealed a bifactorial structure with the dimensions “Sexual Harassment by Coercion” and “Harassment by Unwanted Sexual Attention.” Both dimensions demonstrated adequate internal consistency, concurrent validity with workplace bullying and well-being scales, and discriminant validity with job satisfaction. Additionally, a pronounced floor effect was observed, indicating a low prevalence of sexual harassment in the sample. (4) Conclusions: the SEQ-W scale is a useful tool for assessing sexual harassment among active Spanish-speaking female workers, considering its validated bidimensional structure in Spanish. Full article

Bullying, especially in the context of digitalization, is a global issue that can significantly impact students’ educational and personal development. Our research analyzed the complex and multi-faceted phenomenon of bullying, its prevalence, and its effect on students in middle schools in Craiova, Romania. A quantitative approach was applied using the adopted Save the Children Romania and Olweus questionnaires to a sample of 673 middle school students. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23, employing ANOVA tests, Pearson correlations, and Chi-square tests, as well as descriptive statistics. Contrary to previous research, our findings indicate that gender (r = 0.041) and academic performance did not significantly predict bullying victimization or aggression (p = 0.079). However, we found that the academic performance of students who witnessed bullying incidents was significantly affected. Interestingly, the descriptive statistics showed that boys reported higher rates of bullying involvement. Additionally, social support (−0.148) and the school environment emerged as important factors in bullying prevention. These unexpected results highlight the contextual and cultural specificity of bullying. We encourage further research to better understand this nuanced and complex phenomenon, focusing not only on victims but also on bystanders. Addressing bullying requires a comprehensive approach to promote a healthy learning environment for all students. Full article

This study explores the use of a theatre project to enhance reading competencies among students with special educational needs (SENs) in inclusive classrooms. The project, titled “Stop Bullying! A Theatre Project”, aimed to improve students’ reading skills through dramatised engagement with texts, with a particular focus on promoting literacy and social interaction. Employing a Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology, the study involved iterative cycles of implementation and data collection. Participants, including students with varying reading abilities, engaged in theatrical activities that incorporated reading strategies such as reading aloud, paired reading, and choral reading—each designed to support comprehension, fluency, and reading confidence. Findings from multiple cycles indicated improvements in students’ social dynamics, including stronger peer interactions and increased group cohesion. While quantitative reading assessment data showed only modest gains in reading performance, qualitative observations revealed significant improvements in reading skills and social interactions during collaborative performances. The study concludes that a theatre-based approach can effectively support reading development while fostering a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment. Full article

A positive school climate is characterized by a higher degree of well-being among students, reduced bullying, and improved academic performance. While many initiatives are aimed at creating a positive school climate, discussions in both research and theory frequently fail to acknowledge the essential role of school personnel. This study examines a purposeful sample of Swedish middle-school students (4th to 9th grade) of school personnel’s noticing in fostering or hindering a positive school climate. Fifteen (15) focus groups and 19 semi-structured interviews were analyzed, covering 133 participants selected from three schools (age range 10 to 16 years) in a Swedish municipality. Drawing on a framework of professional noticing and positive school and classroom climate, the investigation was conducted using a case study approach and analyzed with the help of content analysis. The results highlighted the importance placed by students on school personnel noticing appropriate things/events and responding accordingly. For this to happen, personnel need to (a) notice and make themselves visible; (b) be actively observing as a prerequisite to their noticing; (c) be receptive to noticing; (d) notice and grasp a full picture, including students’ perspectives; and (e) connect their noticing with appropriate actions. Full article

Background: Workplace violence refers to acts that occur inside or outside the workplace, ranging from verbal harassment, bullying, threats and physical assaults against workers to homicide. Workplace violence in health care settings is an incident involving verbal, physical or sexual assault against healthcare workers by patients, their relatives or others that poses a threat to healthcare workers. Violence in healthcare settings is a significant public health problem, not only for the victims of violence, but also for society because of its direct and indirect, short and long-term effects. Objectives: The aim of this study is to adapt the Workplace Violence Scale in Healthcare to Turkish, to conduct validity and reliability studies, and to determine its psychometric properties in order to overcome the problems faced by health policy makers in assessing workplace violence and to ensure that they implement appropriate interventions. Methods: In the research in which 191 healthcare workers were included in the pilot study and 627 healthcare workers in the main sample, data were collected using the Sociodemographic Data Form and the Workplace Violence Scale in Healthcare. SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 25.0 programs were used to analyse the data. In the scale validity and reliability study stage, Explanatory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis methods were used after the language and content validity analyses. Results: The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.946, and it was observed that the CR values of the scale consisting of five subdimensions and 37 items were over 0.70 and the AVE values were over 0.50. At the same time, in order to reveal the stability of the scale over time, the test-retest method was applied, and it was seen that the correlation coefficients obtained were 0.97 for the whole scale and between 0.80 and 0.94 for its subdimensions, indicating an excellent level of reliability. Conclusions: As a result of this study, it was accepted that the Workplace Violence Scale in Healthcare, developed with five subdimensions (frequency of workplace violence, impact of workplace violence on the individual, reasons for not reporting workplace violence legally, risk factors increasing workplace violence and workplace violence prevention strategies) and 37 items, can be used as a comprehensive and standard measurement tool that evaluates to measure workplace violence in healthcare settings. With this scale, future studies will be able to determine the type of violence (physical/verbal) that patients and their relatives use against healthcare professionals, how often healthcare professionals are exposed to violence, and how they, their families and social circles are affected physically and psychologically by the violence they experience (psychologically and socially). In addition, the results from the sections of the scale that ask about the risk factors for violence, the reasons why violence is not legally reported, and the practices used to prevent violence can guide health and legal policy makers. Full article

Workplace bullying is a violent, devastating social phenomenon that affects professionals from various fields. The present study aimed to map the bullying behaviors suffered by Portuguese healthcare professionals in the workplace and the coping strategies they used. In this quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational study, 208 Portuguese healthcare professionals participated by completing an online survey consisting of a sociodemographic questionnaire and two instruments, the Negative Acts Questionnaire—Revised and the Brief COPE. The association between sociodemographic characteristics and victimization, patterns of coping strategy frequency, and the relationship between negative work experiences and coping strategies were analyzed. It was found that only 35 participants self-identified as victims of bullying, and there was no association between victimization and any sociodemographic characteristics. However, it was observed that nurses are more frequently victims of bullying than doctors. Regarding coping strategies, participants on average used more planning and active coping. Moreover, women more frequently used social and emotional support as a coping strategy. Additionally, an association was observed between negative work experiences and coping strategies, with a higher frequency of coping strategies among those who reported more negative experiences. Finally, victims of workplace bullying reported higher use of coping strategies such as venting, distraction, and behavioral disengagement. The results are discussed based on the empirical literature on the topic, and they support reflection on the practical and scientific implications of research on workplace violence, emphasize the potential benefits of our research beyond the individual level, highlight how it could inform policies, improve institutional practices, and foster a healthier work environment for healthcare professionals. Full article

Cutaneous lesions suggestive of vasculitis and/or ischemic dermatopathy (ID) are anecdotally reported in canine leishmaniosis, and the clinicopathological features of these conditions have not been fully characterized. The objective of this case series was to describe six dogs with leishmaniosis and ID. In 5/6 dogs, leishmaniosis was diagnosed at the time of ID diagnosis, whereas in 1/6 dogs, ID developed during the first month of anti-Leishmania conventional treatment. One each of greyhound, Chihuahua, whippet, American bully, hound and mixed breeds were represented, and the median age at presentation was 6 years [2–8]. All patients presented high or very high levels of circulating anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies. The cutaneous lesions were multifocal alopecia with atrophic skin with hyper- or hypopigmentation (6/6), ulcers located on the extremities and trunk (3/6) and onychodystrophy (2/6). Histologically, ID was confirmed by the presence of follicular atrophy (faded follicles) (6/6), perivascular or interstitial lymphoplasmacytic dermatitis or panniculitis (6/6), collagen smudging (3/6), dermal fibrosis (3/6), lymphocytic interface dermatitis (3/6) and ulceration (3/6). Vasculopathy was observed in the superficial and mid-vascular plexuses in 4/6 dogs and characterized by the combination of some of the following lesions: vasocongestion, hemorrhagic foci, mild hyaline mural degeneration, thrombi and fragmented degenerating nuclear debris of neutrophils in the vascular wall. Moreover, myositis was observed in 1/6 cases. Leishmania-specific immunohistochemistry was positive in the skin of 4/6 cases. Leishmaniosis might be considered an underlying cause of ID in dogs. However, the immune mechanisms and pathogenesis need to be elucidated. Full article

Background: Previous research has examined to what extent the relationship between bullying/cyberbullying (victims and perpetrators) and psychological well-being is mediated by different cognitive–emotional variables. Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze whether mental toughness acted as a mediating variable in the relationship between bullying, suffered and perpetrated, and subjective vitality. Methods: Three hundred and twelve students in their final year of Primary Education and Compulsory Secondary Education, aged between 11 and 17 years, gave their responses to different self-report measures. Results: The results showed that perceived mental toughness significantly mediated the relationship between victimization and perpetration of aggressive acts through the use of electronic devices and levels of subjective vitality. A similar mediating effect was observed for occasions when the adolescent engaged in bullying acts during face-to-face interactions. Conclusions: It is concluded that high levels of mental toughness may act as a protective mechanism, reducing or mitigating the loss of subjective vitality resulting from being victimized in a virtual environment, as well as from perpetrating aggressive acts during face-to-face interactions and through the use of technological media. Full article

Background: Exposure to violent content through video games can shape perceptions of aggression as normative or acceptable, potentially desensitizing adolescents to violence and increasing the likelihood that they will engage in aggressive behavior in their real-world interactions. This narrative review examines the relationship between violent video games (VVGs) and youth aggression, addressing (i) VVG exposure through the lens of Social Learning Theory and the General Aggression Model; (ii) the biological determinants of aggressive behavior, including neurophysiological correlates and the potential modulatory role of the gut microbiome; (iii) and current evidence on the influence of VVG exposure on adolescent aggression. Results: VVG exposure may promote moral disengagement and reinforce aggressive behavior through rewarding violent actions, potentially leading to real-life aggression. Exposure to VVGs increases aggression by elevating cortisol levels, activating the sympathetic nervous system, stimulating the brain’s reward system, and disrupting neurotransmitter balance. Alterations in gut microbiome composition could occur as a result of engaging in VVGs, potentially mirroring the physiological responses observed in violent real-world activities. The relationship between VVGs and aggression among adolescents has been widely explored, with studies generally indicating that VVG exposure can lead to desensitization to violence, reduced empathy, and diminished prosocial behavior. VVGs have also been linked to both bullying perpetration and victimization dynamics among adolescents, contributing to mental health issues, which in turn exacerbate problematic gaming behaviors. Conclusions: While there is evidence suggesting that exposure to VVGs is associated with increased adolescent aggression, discrepancies in the literature highlight the need for further research aimed at improving our understanding of this phenomenon. The studies on this topic reveal significant limitations, including a predominance of cross-sectional designs, methodological shortcomings, small sample sizes, and challenges in generalizing results. Factors such as the developmental stages of the participants, the exclusion of females, and unmeasured variables during long follow-up periods further complicate interpretations. Moreover, parental responsibility and the effectiveness of age ratings require closer examination. Full article

Background: Happiness and health are crucial elements of adolescents’ lives that significantly impact mental well-being and societal engagement. This article hypothesizes that a suitable school environment may be one of the components that can impact students’ subjective feelings of happiness and health. This research aimed to determine the association between a negative school environment, such as experiencing bullying and feeling insecure at school, and students’ happiness and health. Methods: The study was conducted in 2023, surveying students in grades 7–10 from two Lithuanian cities and their districts. The study included 1992 students (females 50.2%) with a mean age of 14.53 ± 1.12. Results: It was observed that male students felt healthier and happier than females. Also, male students felt safer at school more often than females. A positive correlation was found between a student’s feeling of safety at school and their happiness and health. Regression analysis revealed that a feeling of safety at school was the most significant positive factor associated with male students’ sense of happiness and health. Also, the most important factors for females were a feeling of safety at school, bullying, and how often teachers stop bullying. Conclusions: It was found that feelings of insecurity at school, experiences of bullying, and how often teachers stop bullying can be associated with students’ subjective feelings of happiness and well-being. School environmental factors can affect students’ happiness and well-being differently depending on gender. It is essential to focus on vulnerable student populations when creating preventive programs to enhance adolescents’ sense of safety in schools. Full article

Bullying and cyberbullying share in their definition the pattern of aggressive and intentional conduct, characterized by a perceived or observed imbalance and repeated over time. Empathy and emotional intelligence are fundamental individual skills that can enable adolescents to develop less aggressive and more empathetic behaviors. The aim of this study is to explore the frequency of bullying and cyberbullying (victimization and/or aggression), the association of bullying, cyberbullying, empathy, and emotional intelligence, and to explore whether sex, age, educational level, and online recreational time are related to bullying and cyberbullying behaviors. A sample of 599 adolescents, aged between 13 and 21 years old, from basic and secondary schools located in the north of Portugal, participated in the study. The instruments used in the study were the Sociodemographic Questionnaire; the Bullying and Cyberbullying Behavior Questionnaire; the Basic Empathy Scale; and the Self-Perception of Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. The main results indicated that victims demonstrate greater empathy and emotional intelligence. The results also showed that male adolescents take on more of the role of aggressors in bullying and cyberbullying, while female adolescents take on more of the role of victims. The study underscores the importance of developing and implementing prevention and intervention programs for bullying and cyberbullying, with a focus on promoting empathy and emotional intelligence among adolescents. Full article

The presence of violence between coworkers in nursing settings is a common fact that has been documented over time by using different terms to define the violence suffered by nurses and nursing students, although in recent years it has been agreed that the term “bullying” covers them all. This study aims to determine the prevalence and characteristics of bullying in nursing students, and to describe the association between the prevalence of bullying and socio-demographic attributes. A descriptive, observational, quantitative, and cross-sectional study was carried out of nursing students between 2017 and 2020. Socio-demographic variables were collected. Bullying was assessed through the NAQ-R questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the R statistical program. A total of 411 nursing students were included. A prevalence of perceived bullying of 92% was detected. The main negative attitudes identified were mandated tasks that are below the level of competence (66.3%), changes in tasks for other more trivial or unpleasant ones (60%), having opinions that are ignored (52%), and being excessively supervised (49%). The prevalence of bullying in nursing students at the University of Oviedo exceeds 90%, which suggests that interventions to solve the problem of bullying are urgent at the institutional, political, and organizational levels. Full article

Adolescence is a critical period for establishing lifelong health behaviors; yet in Lebanon, limited data exist on the prevalence of risk factors among this demographic. Objective: This study aims to assess alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, mental health, and smoking behaviors among Lebanese adolescents aged 13–17 years, with a focus on gender and school-type differences. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in Lebanon between March and July 2022 using the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) questionnaire. A representative sample of students from public and private schools participated in the survey, with key variables analyzed to identify significant patterns and disparities. Results: Our findings reveal that 6.3% of adolescents consumed alcohol, with males reporting a higher prevalence and earlier initiation (p = 0.003). Gender differences were evident in dietary habits, where males were more likely to consume sugary drinks (p = 0.04) and have consistent breakfast habits (p = 0.003). Adolescents from private schools exhibited distinct dietary behaviors, including lower milk consumption (p < 0.001) and higher fatty food intake (p = 0.008). Males were also more physically active and reported better mental health outcomes compared to females (p = 0.004). Smoking behaviors showed that males smoked more frequently, while private school students reported smoking less. No significant difference was observed in bullying experiences between genders or school types. Conclusions: The study highlights critical health behaviors among Lebanese adolescents, with significant variations by gender and school type. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the identified risk factors and promote healthier behaviors in this population. Full article