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Trajectories of Victimization and Bullying at University: Prevention for a Healthy and Sustainable Educational Environment

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  • José Gómez-Galán

    (Department of Education, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
    Cupey Campus, Ana G. Méndez University, San Juan, PR 00926, USA)

  • Cristina Lázaro-Pérez

    (Department of Sociology, University of Murcia, Campus Universitario, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • José Ángel Martínez-López

    (Department of Social Work and Social Services, University of Murcia, Avenida Teniente Flomesta, 30003 Murcia, Spain)

Abstract

The bullying phenomenon is both an uncomfortable reality and a serious social problem for educational community institutions. Its presence is incompatible with a healthy and sustainable education environment. The educational, psychological, and social consequences of bullying transcend the personal sphere and reach the family and work environment in adulthood. Traditionally, bullying has been studied in the compulsory educational stages. However, at present, this problem is also being addressed in higher education. The present research, which is of a transversal nature, aims to explore bullying in the Spanish university setting, along with its typology, scope, and predictive factors, from both socio-demographic and family perspectives. In this sense, we set ourselves the following objectives: (GO1) to see if university students are exposed to bullying, as well as to identify the profiles of the subjects of bullying from three dimensions (physical, relational, and verbal victimization) and (GO2) to determine whether there are trajectories of bullying in university students from the compulsory education stage to the present. Based on a descriptive quantitative methodology, this study was conducted in 10 Spanish universities. The research’s major results show that the persistence of bullying in university classrooms is of a relational and verbal nature, but is not physical. Victimization occurs mainly in women who carry out studies linked to social and legal sciences or art and the humanities. Additionally, it is observed that a spiral of relational violence is produced, perpetuating this type of aggression over time. Among other predictive factors in university students is that they have suffered relational violence during their compulsory education. These data should alert educational and health institutions about the persistence of bullying in university students to prevent it and to facilitate its early detection and treatment to eradicate this problem from higher education classrooms.

Suggested Citation

  • José Gómez-Galán & Cristina Lázaro-Pérez & José Ángel Martínez-López, 2021. "Trajectories of Victimization and Bullying at University: Prevention for a Healthy and Sustainable Educational Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3426-:d:520569
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michelle F. Wright & Sebastian Wachs, 2018. "Does Parental Mediation Moderate the Longitudinal Association among Bystanders and Perpetrators and Victims of Cyberbullying?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-10, November.
    2. Jolita Vveinhardt & Vilija Bite Fominiene & Regina Andriukaitiene & Dalia Streimikiene, 2019. "Harassment and Bullying among Students in Higher Education Institutions: Manifestation of Single Cases of Harassment and Bullying in Aspects of Demographic Variables," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(51), pages 409-409.
    3. repec:aud:audfin:v:21:y:2019:i:51:p:409 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Ana Cristina Silva & Minoo Farhangmehr & Marjan Sara Jalali, 2018. "License to bully: rites of passage in higher education," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 15(1), pages 49-66, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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