Characteristics of bullying among adolescents in Ukraine after the full-scale russian invasion

Abstract

This article presents the results of an all-Ukrainian study titled “Bullying and Tolerance in Educational Institutions after February 24, 2022”, conducted between November 2023 and January 2024. The study aimed to identify the prevalence of bullying among middle school students (grades 5-9) and its most common types and pretexts. Additionally, the research identified support-seeking patterns for adolescents experiencing bullying and how schools respond to these appeals. Common school responses included communication with the bully or target and involving the bully’s parents. Police intervention occurred in 3.9% of cases. Notably, some peculiarities of bullying in Ukrainian schools emerged after the full-scale russian invasion, including increased bullying levels in Kyiv and new pretexts such as refugee status. The overall prevalence of bullying since the invasion began is 24.7%. Among bullied students, 59.4% sought help from someone and 52.2% of those received help. Appearance, behaviour, and worldview were the most common pretexts for bullying. Based on language, those who live abroad and moved there from the Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, Kyiv Regions and Kyiv, as well as those who live in the Lviv Region and Kyiv and moved there from the Kherson and Donetsk Regions, are more likely to be bullied because of their use of the russian language. Relational bullying, such as spreading rumours and discouraging friendships, was the most prevalent type among Ukrainian adolescents. The study results can be used for more effective anti-bullying intervention programs in educational institutions