Peer Violence Examined in the Context of a School-Wellbeing Research, in Romanian Rural Schools

The past decade has shown a growing tendency of school violence and bullying in Romanian schools. According to the research report of Save the Children Romania, 31% of young people felt excluded in their schools, 37% disclosed feeling humiliated and otherwise bullied by peers. With an indicator of bullying experience of 56.95%, UNICEF places Romania among the countries with high risks of bullying (65.01% for boys and 49.93% for girls) (UNICEF, 2018, p. 28). Aiming to promote school inclusion in disadvantaged rural communities, Romanian Joining Forces Consortium (World Vision, Tèrres des Hommes, Save the Children and SOS Children’s Villages) financed research to investigate school climate in a sample of 12 rural schools in Romania, rated as institutions ‘at risk’ for education performances and social disadvantage.

Online questionnaires for the school-climate profiles have been completed by 873 secondary school students and 792 high school students. Data were collected during the school lockdown due to the Coronavirus epidemics, period 2020-21. The survey was structured around the young people’s perceptions on teacher’s support, school inclusiveness, perceived peer violence, school satisfaction and school engagement.

The statistical analysis has shown a significant association between the experiences of different types of violence of the middle and high school students, the indicators of school inclusiveness, and the perceived social support. Students with lower perceived peer and teacher support had more violent experiences than their colleagues. The predictive effect of school violence on school satisfaction and school engagement was higher than that satisfaction with peer relationships. Having good relationships with peers and teachers significantly decreased the odds of reporting personal experiences of violence.

Working with peer groups revealed that students are aware of their disempowered position in schools, in situations of violence. They wish for more collaboration with teachers against school violence and for a better school climate.