Bullying in Canada
Faye Mishna and Melissa Van Wert
Series : Issues in Canada
Bullying is an age-old problem that has traditionally been seen as "normal," as par-for-the-course of childhood and youth, at times even depicted as a rite-of-passage with "character building" benefits. More recently, however, we understand it as a public health issue with potentially serious
long-term problems for health and well-being that include stress, self-harm, anxiety, and depression. This is true of perpetrators as well as victims, who often suffer negative long-term consequences. Of concern, Canada is currently ranked 21st and 26th out of 40 participating countries on the
proportion of boys and girls involved in bullying; several UNICEF studies have found comparable results. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Canada is failing in its duty to protect children and youth from abuse.
Faye Mishna and Melissa Van Wert
provide a well-organized, multidimensional overview of bullying in this introductory text, the first book of its kind to look specifically at the Canadian context. Drawing on the most up-to-date research, including the Health Behavior in School-Age Children survey and recent parliamentary reviews,
Mishna and Van Wert consider specific facts about Canada. These include societal norms and characteristics, marginalization of certain communities, immigration and diversity, socio-economic indicators, and urban-rural demographics, all factors that can influence bullying dynamics. The authors also
consider other potential contributors, such as physical appearance, learning abilities or developmental challenges, sexual orientation, and family dynamics. Mishna and Van Wert devote an entire chapter to the latest research on cyber bullying, a relatively new problem that has arisen in the wake of
social media and information and communication technologies.
Addressing bullying behaviour is rarely a simple matter, but research shows that a holistic concept of the individual is the best starting point. A final chapter gives an excellent review of what works. Mishna and Van Wert
support the concept of treating bullying as a relational problem among individuals, within a network of interacting contexts. They draw on an ecological theoretical framework, a roadmap that helps us think about young people as developing within multiple layers of socialization - the personal, the
familial, the social, and even the cyber. Mishna and Van Wert provide an overview of strategies and initiatives, such as PREVNet and the Roots of Empathy, and also provide a set of seven guidelines that teachers, parents, and administrators will find essential.
A crucial part of
promoting the healthy development of Canadian children and youth involves promoting positive early relationships and addressing bullying behaviour. Putting an end to aggression fundamentally improves human interaction and socialization, and can impact our long-term health and well-being. Our values
as a nation compel us to confront incidents, improve education, and establish preventative measures, and our legal duties require us to protect our children.
Readership : Students, social workers, school teachers and administrators will find this up-to-date resource on the bullying in Canada essential reading.
Introduction
1. Defining and Determining the Frequency and Effects of Bullying
2. Cyber Bullying
3. Bias-Based Bullying
4. Bullying among Friends and Siblings
5. The Complexity of Bullying
6. Prevention and Intervention
Bibliography
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Faye Mishna is Dean and Professor, at the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and is cross-appointed to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She holds the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Chair in Child and Family. Prior to joining the
Faculty, she was Clinical Director of Integra, a children's mental health centre serving children and youth with learning disabilities. She is a Fellow of the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities. Professor Mishna's program of research is focused on: bullying; cyber
abuse/cyber bullying and cyber counselling; and school-based interventions for students with learning disabilities. An integral component of her research entails collaboration with community agencies and organizations. Her scholarly publications have focused on bullying, social work education and
clinical practice.
Melissa Van Wert is a PhD Student at University of Toronto and a Research Associate with the 2008 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. Melissa has research experience in a variety of areas, and has worked with children and adolescents across
numerous settings. She also has experience in coordinating Journal Watch, an inter-university learning partnership between the CRCF at McGill University and the Faculty of Social Work at University of Toronto.
Aging in Canada - Neena L. Chappell and Marcus J. Hollander
Poverty in Canada - Raghubar D. Sharma
Canada and Conflict - Patrick James
Crime in Canada - Diane Crocker
Problem Gambling in Canada - Lorne Tepperman and Kristy Wanner
Racism in Canada - Vic Satzewich
Child Poverty in Canada - Patrizia Albanese
Understanding Social Inequality - Julie McMullin
Choices and Constraints in Family Life - Maureen Baker
Substance Abuse in Canada - Marilyn Herie and Wayne Skinner
Special Features
- Consolidates years of research on bullying. From the earliest research by Dan Olweus in Norway to the most recent Health Behaviour in School-Age Children survey, Faye Mishna and Melissa van Wert survey the full spectrum of research, explaining methodological issues, definitional problems,
and best-practice.
- Addresses bullying as a problem with real consequences for public health. We now understand that this behaviour affects our long-term health and mental well-being; governments are beginning to address bullying as a serious issue for public health.
- First-hand research,
including real case-studies. Authors have conducted their own substantial research among children in Canadian school; they draw on a wealth of original, primary, and previously unpublished information to provide a clear snapshot of the current climate.
- Reveals complexity. Bullying often involves
shifting power relations and subtle forms of aggression, not to mention onlookers who silent witness may amount to complicity - in other words, it involves a network of behaviour that may be difficult for adults to detect, correctly interpret, and address.
- Debunks myths about bullying. Some
inherited wisdom turns out to misguided at best: children do not necessarily "grow out" of bullying, and "standing up" to their tormentors rarely results in a sustainable solution. Nor is bullying an isolated, individual problem.
- Explores different types of bullying. Research shows that bullying
behavior can be helpfully classified into categories, including bias-based, gender, and bullying among friends and siblings. Classifications like psychological and relational bullying help adults recognize patterns and subtle distinctions.
- Deeply insightful. Bullying is a relationship problem
that requires a mature and compassionate awareness of group dynamics and individual circumstances.
- Clear demonstration of the need for education at all levels. School administrators, teachers, and parents all have a duty to raise awareness, change toxic school or home climates, teach appropriate
online etiquette, and use smart intervention strategies.
- Cyber-bullying. An entire chapter is devoted to the relatively new phenomenon of social media and online bullying, considering similarities and differences with traditional bullying.
- An up-to-date survey of Canadian law as it applies to
bullying. A clear and concise evaluation of existing laws, as well as those under development, helps highlight how society currently holds perpetrators responsible.
- Ecological framework. Authors recommend treating each young person in terms of his or her unique context; adults must engage in the
layered and interacting social contexts in which young people develop.
- Guidelines. Authors condense a huge quantity of research into seven effective and supportive strategies.
