Bullies And Victims In Middle School

837 students from two suburban middle schools in southeast Michigan participated in this study to assess bully/victim behavior. Sixth and seventh grade students were assessed along a continuum of interpersonal behavior (social information processing, emotion-related regulation, and social skills). The Olweus Bully/Victim measure was used to assess bully/victim tendencies. The school climate measure was used to assess whether student perceptions of their school environment mediated bully/victim outcomes. School climate mediated bully/victim and victim behaviors; bully and bully/victims shared aggressive and hostile social information processing and aggressive behavior. Victims and bully/victims shared worry, frustration and sadness, while bullies did not. Future research should include the assessment of teacher perceptions of the school climate and their role as mediators of bully/victim behavior