School bullying: why is it more prevalent in college?

Insults, mockery, cyberbullying, beatings… Violence at school has many faces and is very widespread. have already experienced violence during their school career.

Different types of violence

Among these young people, 64% of the victims say they have already suffered verbal aggression such as insults or mockery, 44% psychological violence such as moral harassment, humiliation linked to school results, cyberbullying and finally 38% mention physical harm. such as pushing or hitting.

Violence especially in college

The places of violence at school are not the same for everyone. For 71% of respondents, they took place in college. Only 27% of respondents mention violence in primary school and 26% in high school. Finally, a minority (6%) speaks of violence in kindergarten.

Why does the college crystallize violent attitudes? “The school is the first place of socialization and the college the moment when all the upheavals take place” explains Justine Atlan, general manager of the e-Enfance association. “Relationships are more complicated in adolescence and college is the place to share all the changes that adolescents go through..

Beware of the group effect

In addition, 44% of the young people questioned mention the group effect as the main reason pushing young people to be violent towards their peers. It is also a characteristic element of school bullying. “Beyond violence at school, harassment or cyberbullying has other characteristics: repeated violence, towards the same person, with a group effect with the desire to humiliate the victim. explains Justine Atlan.

serious consequences

This school violence has serious consequences for those who are victims of it. They lead to a drop in self-confidence, for nearly one in two victims, dropout and school phobia for nearly 30% of them and have harmful effects on their mental and physical health in 22% of cases. . The arrival of cell phones among teenagers has not helped. “Digital tools are additional weapons for attackers” confirms Justine Atlan. “In addition to attacking, they can also do it anonymously, with this type of tool”.

What to do in case of harassment?

You have understood: there is a difference between violence and harassment. “If your child is a victim of bullying at school, I advise parents or teenagers who would like to report it to call 3018, which can be reached by phone but also on the app via a chat, to testify anonymously and confidentially. This is the reference number to help victims of cyberbullying, the support can be done quickly to ask the social network platforms to have the content deleted, contact National Education by a referent attached to the academy, be accompanied to lodge a complaint if necessary. 3018 is really the number to dial for victims” concludes the general manager.