At risk: age, gender, and socio-economic status in bullying victimization among South African primary school students

Abstract

While there is public and political consensus on the need to safeguard the physical and psychological welfare of students at school, more needs to be known about which South African students are at risk of exposure to specific forms of bullying. Such data is crucial in informing the development of appropriate school safety programmes. Using self-reported nationally representative data from 11 891 Grade 5 students who participated in the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) cycle, this paper first examines the extent and nature of bullying in South African primary schools nationally and by school socioeconomic status. It then examines risk factors related to being a victim of certain forms of bullying. The results point to significant age and gender differences, where boys and older students are more likely to be victims of bullying. The paper concludes that policymakers, teachers, and principals must consider these factors when designing interventions to support safe learning environments for students in South African primary schools.