What is it about?

Children with disabilities are at greater risk of bullying. This study surveyed mothers of five-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder about the types and frequency of bullying their children faced and how they supported them, including open-ended accounts in the mothers' own words.

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Why is it important?

Children experienced all types of bullying, especially being picked on, being excluded and being called names. Mothers most often involved peers and teachers to prevent bullying, or helped their children avoid bullies, but none encouraged their children to stand up to bullies. The findings can help schools and families protect young autistic children from bullying.

Perspectives

Mothers are often the first line of defence for young autistic children. I hope this study helps schools and families work together to prevent bullying and to support children in responding to it.

Prof Nizar H Bagadood
Umm Al-Qura University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Bullying experiences and mothers’ responses to bullying of children with autism spectrum disorder, Discover Psychology, August 2022, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s44202-022-00045-3.
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