Peer Aggression and Well-Being: Spanish Secondary Schools

Abstract

This chapter presents the main results of a peer aggression and well-being study conducted with a total of 535 Spanish schoolchildren aged 12 to 16 years who were in the Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) stage in the Spanish education system. The results on peer victimisation indicated that one in four schoolchildren has suffered some kind of aggression at least once or twice in the last three months and 12.1% indicated they had been victims of bullying. The main forms of victimisation were being called names and being a victim of rumours. Girls were more likely than boys to report being victims of bullying, mainly in Year 7. One in five school children admitted that they had attacked another student at least once or twice in the last three months and 8.2% had been involved in bullying behaviours. The main forms of aggression were pick on someone, hitting, kicking or pushing another. The girls were in greater measure the ones who were more involved in bullying as aggressors, and mainly in Year 7. The well-being results indicated that over half of the boys and girls were flourishing. Approximately one in three had a moderate mental health, with the highest levels observed among boys in Year 9. In general there was a low level of languishing amongst boys and girls. Most students had a positive self-concept, particularly the Year 10 students. Approximately two in three were considered resilient, with higher scores amongst boys in relation to girls.