Date of Award
5-2020
Document Type
Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Education (MEd)
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Brian Cavanaugh
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, bullying has been identified as a current critical public health problem (Srabstein & Leventhal, 2010). Bullying is defined by consistent, repeated maltreatment through physical or emotional aggression that is often experienced at school or online, (Young-Jones, Fursa, Byrket, and Sly, 2015). Studies on bullying and its effects are plentiful, ranging from psychological to social-emotional damages; however, there is a gap in the research on its effect on teen pregnancy. This mixed methods study examined the effects and consequences of bullying as a risk factor in teenage pregnancy. Through 17 surveys and three interviews of high school parents, this study revealed that 82% of students experienced bullying in school, 40% said they left school due to bullying, including other factors, and nearly 50% surveyed said that it was very important to stay in school. This study found that most high school parents had experienced bullying. The researcher recommends that schools need to become or stay vigilant against bullying by monitoring locations that bullying occurs, connecting individually with students who are at greater risk, and instituting a school-wide no-tolerance policy against bullying.
Recommended Citation
Fadel, Dana, "Bullying as a Predictor of Early Pregnancy" (2020). M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects. 98.
https://scholarworks.umf.maine.edu/ed_leadership_projects/98
