Primary School Teachers and Parents Perception of Peer Bullying Among Children in Iran: A Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to recognize bullying behavior in the students in Iran and analyze the perception of school teachers and parents in this regard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted with four teachers and eight parents of children involved in bully/victim problems and the analysis was interpreted through established comparative evaluation methods. RESULTS: Iranian teachers and the parents perceived bullying mainly as physical and verbal attacks with little understanding of the psychological factors. They emphasized that the underlying influence of religious beliefs should also be considered in the context of bullying among Iranian society due to the strict conformance applied by parents upon their child. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the outcomes of the study, it is recommended that the teachers participate in anti-bullying programs orientated to prevent bullying behaviors and develop strong supportive relationship with parents to reduce this behavior through personal contacts and interactive workshops.