Exploring bullying, cyberbullying and the authoritarian parenting style among grade six and seven learners in Benoni
Young, Kelly Anne
This study aimed to gain insight into the nature and extent of traditional and cyberbullying
among Grade Six and Seven learners in four public primary schools in Benoni. Using the Social
Learning Theory as a basis for understanding bullying as a learned behaviour (socially learned
through the observation of authoritarian parents), a quantitative research method was applied which
utilised an online self-report questionnaire to examine the relationship between bullying and the
Authoritarian parenting style. Results indicate that 50.4% of learners had been victimised, while
31.6% and 8.8% had engaged in perpetrating traditional and cyberbullying, respectively at least
once (N = 279). Further results revealed that the Authoritarian parenting style is significantly
related to the perpetration of both types of bullying. These results bring to the fore the
reciprocal relationship between both types of bullying, and indicate a need for systemic
intervention at the primary school level (involving parents/caregivers). Interventions should
therefore not seek to separate types of bullying into discreet problems, but rather focus on their
common underlying aspects, including parenting behaviours
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