Preventative approaches

Schools can reduce bullying by providing inclusive environments which help students create positive connections and develop social and emotional skills.

Low school belonging can cause isolation and loneliness, increasing the risk of being bullied and bullying others.¹ Some students may also bully in an attempt to fit in or gain social status.² When students feel welcomed, accepted and respected at school, regardless of status, background or achievements – when students feel they belong – bullying becomes much less likely.³

Celebrating diversity

Anything that makes a person ‘different’ from the group places them at greater risk of being bullied. This bias is experienced particularly by students who belong to a racial or religious minority, identify as LGBTIQ+, or have a disability or health-related disorder. Schools that celebrate diversity create an inclusive culture that welcomes people of all backgrounds, personal characteristics and abilities. These schools reduce biases and create a positive and safe environment for all students. This makes bullying less likely.⁴

Encouraging upstanders

Being defended matters. When students who are being bullied are defended by upstanders (also known as defenders or active bystanders), they experience fewer emotional difficulties, have higher self-esteem and feel more socially accepted. This defending not only helps students who are being bullied, it also makes it clear that bullying is not OK.⁵ This raises the behavioural standards of a school.

Children and young people are more likely to intervene when they:

• understand what bullying is
• feel strong peer and school support
• have the ability to empathise.

An inclusive and supportive school community can help prevent bullying by encouraging students to be active bystanders and to stand up to bullying (when it is safe to do so).

Wellbeing is a state of overall physical and emotional health that helps students feel safe, connected and supported. Strong relationships, emotional regulation and feeling safe all support wellbeing. Students who experience wellbeing learn better, build more positive relationships and are less likely to be involved in bullying.⁶

Resilience

Wellbeing and resilience are closely connected – strengthening one reinforces the other. When schools and families promote wellbeing, they help students to develop confidence, emotional regulation and positive social connections, and build resilience. Resilient students are more likely to cope with stress and difficulties in healthy ways, which supports their overall wellbeing. They are also more likely to ask for help when they need it, which means they are less likely to be negatively affected by bullying.⁷

Emotional regulation

Poor emotional regulation increases the risk of a young person being bullied or bullying others.⁸ When students learn emotional regulation, they learn to identify and manage their emotions. This helps them to better manage stress, reduce their aggression, communicate and navigate conflict, and have more empathy towards others. Students who are good at regulating their emotions are less likely to bully others or be bullied.⁹

Children and young people can experience positive relationships with friends, peers, family members, teachers and other trusted adults. These positive relationships help them feel safe, connected, socially confident and resilient, and this supports their overall wellbeing.

High-quality and respectful teacher–student relationships create supportive and caring classrooms, where everyone is respected and treated fairly. These benefits help protect against being bullied and bullying others.¹⁰

Conflict resolution skills

Conflict resolution skills include empathy, active listening and communication. Learning and practising conflict resolution:

• strengthens relationships with others
• creates a culture of empathy and respect
• helps build a community that does not tolerate bullying.

It’s important to note that conflict resolution is designed for disputes between people with equal power and is not appropriate for managing bullying, which involves a power imbalance.

Respectful relationships

Bullying can be gender based and can involve sexual harassment, particularly among teenagers.¹¹ Gender bias is a learned behaviour and is a driver of violence against women and girls.¹² When children and young people see, learn and practise respectful relationships, they become part of a culture that values respect and gender equality. Schools that embrace and promote respectful relationships enjoy improved academic performance, classroom behaviours, student mental health and teacher–student relationships.¹³ When communities, schools and individuals value respectful relationships, bullying is reduced.

Empathy

When students feel empathy towards others, they show them compassion, respect and support. Helping students to develop and practise empathy increases positive social behaviours and helps reduce school bullying behaviour.¹⁴