Effects of social network indicators and positions in class on bullied experiences among junior high school students in Taiwan

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to realize the rate of being bullied among junior high school students in Taiwan and to investigate the effect of social network indicators and positions on bullied experiences.

Methods: Part of the data from the National Science Council research project "The relationship of health and characters of Taiwan junior high school students in School violence" was obtained in this study for analysis purpose. The sample involved 2,474 seventh to ninth graders in northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan via stratified, multistage, random cluster sampling. UCINET software was utilized to generate the social network indicators. Social network positions were obtained using peer nomination (nominated up to three classmates). The sample was classified into the isolates, sources, sinks, clique members and liaisons based on the numbers of indegree and outdegree. Bullied behaviors could be classified into three types as the physical, verbal and relational. Logistic regression models were analyzed by SAS software.

Results: Boys of lower indegree and source were more likely to be physical/verbal bullied (compared to girls of outdegree and clique members, respectively); girls were more likely to be relationally bullied than boys; isolated students was associated with the experience of physical/relational bullied; and liaisons were more likely to be relationally bullied.

Conclusions: Social network positions were significantly associated with bullied experiences. Teachers and school facilitators should recognize the association in advance for school bullying prevention.