Covert Bullying Among Preadolescent Children at School

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Adult and peer support protects against power imbalance in relation to bullying. Some bullying is very subtle, perpetrated by children who have very good social skills in an attempt to gain or keep status within the peer group. The peer group has a strong influence on bullying; when peers as bystanders actively support the bullying or passively remain silent the bullied child can experience an increase of social isolation. This isolation is likely to be increased with covert bullying that is intentionally and cleverly hidden from adults. Over time social isolation, or loneliness, can activate increased mortality through outcomes of physical and mental health. This paper discusses children's perceptions of factors that influence and protect against the harm of covert bullying.

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