Towards an Ecological Model of Victimization at School
In keeping with the ecological perspective, this article assesses effects of individual, contextual and environmental factors on the risk of becoming a victim of violence at school. A particular emphasis is given to the roles of guardians, handlers and victims. A survey was administered to pupils of 16 elementary schools from an urban area in the province of Quebec (n=838) to learn about their experiences with violence at school. Data were analyzed using a General Hierarchical Linear Model (GHLM). GHLM incorporates, in one model, variables at the school and the pupil levels. Results show that 44.2 %, 74 % and 22.3 % of pupils experienced respectively physical, verbal and Internet violence during the last month. Results indicate that externalized behaviours increase the risk of becoming a victim of verbal and physical violence. Just like self-defence, bystander (potential guardian) interventions lower the risk of becoming a victim of physical and verbal violence. Seeking help from teachers, supervisors or parents increases victimization risk. Encouraging bystander interventions represents an element that could be integrated into prevention programs.