BULLIES AND VICTIMS IN SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ITALY

Anonymous questionnaires assessing the amount and nature of bullying/v ictimization were given to 1379 primary and middle school pupils (8-11 ;11-14yrs) in two towns of Central and Southern Italy, Florence and Co senza. The questionnaire closely followed the design of Olweus (1991) and Whitney and Smith (1993). Results were analysed in terms of percen tages of bullying others and being bullied types of bullying behaviour , where it occurred and who were the perpretators. Bullying was report ed in both Italian areas at a more substantial level than found in oth er countries, including Norway, England Spain and Japan, although it p resented similar structural features to those reported elsewhere: bein g bullied decreased in older pupils, bullying others was most likely t o be admitted by boys, the perpetretators were in the same class as th e victims. Considering direct and indirect forms of bullying, year and gender differences are discussed for the two Italian areas and in cro ss-national perspective.