Gender Differences in the Manifestation of Bullying Factors in Juveniles

Introduction. Insufficient study of the influence of gender differences on the behaviour of all participants in the bullying structure (aggressors, their victims, bystanders) hinders the development of preventive measures to help juveniles under bullying conditions, to prevent violence and bullying in the educational system. The purpose is to identify gender differences in the manifestation of bullying factors among adolescents in a general education organization located in a small town. Materials and Methods. The method of questioning (adapted methodology «School climate»); testing (Unified methodology of socio-psychological testing) were used. Results and Discussion. It was found that in adolescence boys and girls are equally prone to aggression, but the content characteristics of such behaviour (type of aggression, degree of expression of bullying factors) manifest themselves differently. Girls with positive attitudes towards bullying are oriented more towards competition, preferring the use of verbal aggression and influence through the virtual environment. Boys with positive attitudes towards bullying prefer physical aggression and see the effectiveness of bullying prevention in stricter control by the administration. Conclusions. For boys, more frequent risk factors include Risk-taking propensity, and the protective factor against bullying is Social activity. For girls, the risk factors for bullying are Impulsiveness and Anxiety; the protective factors against bullying are Acceptance by parents and Acceptance by classmates, which expands the understanding of the specifics and gender differences in the expression of bullying factors in older adolescence. It is important to involve parents in work with girls, while for boys it is necessary to provide opportunities for their participation in socially useful activities.