The Institute for Child Development Science in Hamamatsu City and the Center for Child and Mental Development at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine have developed the "Japan Bullying Scale" that can accurately measure the actual situation of bullying in Japan in a way that can be compared with other countries.A survey of elementary and junior high school students in the Chubu region found that 2% had been bullied in the past few months.
According to Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, the scale we have developed includes 9 items that ask about damage and sightings for each of the nine types of bullying, such as "physical bullying," "word bullying," and "out of friends," and bullying harm regardless of the type. It consists of a total of 18 questions, one for each question.
The definition of bullying is that children and students who are the target of the act in Japan feel physical and mental pain, and emphasize the acceptance of the victim, but overseas, imbalance of power and repeated acts , Objectivity such as the intention of the perpetrator is used as a criterion.
Bullying fact-finding surveys have been repeated in Japan, but it was difficult to compare and verify with overseas because there was no accurate measurement method in line with the international definition.
A survey of 2,234 elementary and junior high school students in the Chubu region using the developed scale showed that 36% had been bullied in the past few months, but the percentage of witnesses was 2% overseas. It was also found to be lower than the 3% level.The Institute for Child Development Science suspects that bullying in Japan occurs in places where it cannot be seen, and that the definition of bullying is ambiguous and witnesses do not recognize it as bullying.
