New research into bullying in high schools

Kirstin Barchia

Kirstin Barchia has received a scholarship from the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund to undertake her combined Masters/PhD research into bullying in Sydney high schools.

“I searched for funds all over the place,” says Barchia who was successful on a number of levels. Along with the Rotary scholarship, she also has her Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), and funding from the Australian Federation of University Women, to fund her research into bullying in high schools.

“Applying for the Rotary grant was a full-on process but well worth it,” Barchia says. She completed a 13-page application form, provided a proposal of her research, and also a resume outlining prior work experience. She was then invited to participate in a 30-minute interview which included a 10 minute PowerPoint presentation.

The Rotary grant adds an extra $7000 a year to the APA, making her tax free salary $26,000 a year. “This means I can live while I study full time,” she says.

High school bullying

Barchia decided to focus on bullying after being employed as a youth worker in the high school system. “There is a lack of mental health services available, particularly on Sydney’s northern beaches,” she says. “You could have a student in front of you talking about taking their life and not have somewhere to take them.”

After contacting well over 100 schools, Barchia has secured the involvement of 12 private and public schools across the greater Sydney area and beyond. Her study will involve 2000 students from Years 7 – 10 who will complete a questionnaire in Term 1 and also in Term 4.

“Research has shown that one in six Australian students are bullied every week and that those students are three times more likely to develop depression,” she explains. “I will be looking at the different roles that students take in conflict situations. There are students who behave aggressively, those who are victims, students who intervene, and a group known as outsiders who don’t ever get involved.”

Barchia aims to get a picture of all the various groups through her study. “While it is easy to get information on bullied kids, bullies are not as likely not to say they are behaving aggressively,” she says. “But it is a group that really needs to be looked at in terms of what is going on for them.”

Two decades ago bullying was considered to be physical aggression and according to Barchia schools have dealt well with this kind of bullying. “Today the definition has changed to include social isolation and exclusion, and all of a sudden schools are recognising what has been happening all along.”

At the end of her research, Barchia is hoping to develop a comprehensive theory of bullying which takes a complex problem and tries to simplify it in a way that is practical for schools.

For further information contact Barchia’s supervisor, Associate Professor Kay Bussey in the Department of Psychology via email: kay.bussey@mq.edu.au

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