The Magnitude and Impact of Bullying among School Pupils in Muscat, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study

Table 3

Characteristics of bullying perpetrators and the reactions of the victims towards bullying incidents among school pupils in a 12-month period stratified by gender, Oman, 2007.

Characteristics	Total; (%)	Male; (%)	Female; (%)	value
Age of perpetrator	1463	688	775	0.02
Same age as the victim	382 (26.1)	216 (31.4)	166 (21.4)
Older than the victim	501 (34.2)	209 (30.4)	292 (37.7)
Younger than the victim	129 (8.8)	68 (9.9)	61 (7.9)
Relationship to victim	1463	688	775	0.04
A relative of the victim	227 (15.5)	81 (11.8)	146 (18.8)
Unknown to the victim	224 (15.3)	114 (16.6)	110 (14.2)
Reasons for bullying	1020	514	506	0.01
Physical appearance	266 (26.1)	138 (26.8)	128 (25.3)
Academic performance	129 (12.6)	79 (15.4)	50 (9.9)
Manner of speech	113 (11.1)	69 (13.4)	44 (8.7)
Having a disease or disability	85 (8.3)	58 (11.3)	27 (5.3)
Unknown	427 (41.9)	170 (33.1)	257 (50.8)
Informing about bullying	1431	630	801	0.04
No reaction	272 (19)	109 (17.3)	163 (20.3)
Informing a relative	299 (20.9)	110 (17.5)	189 (23.6)
Informing school staff	171 (11.9)	89 (14.1)	82 (10.2)
Informing another student	225 (15.7)	68 (10.8)	157 (19.6)
Reciprocating the bullying	1431	630	801	0.05
No reciprocating	967 (67.6)	376 (59.7)	591 (73.8)
Reciprocating verbally	240 (16.8)	98 (15.6)	142 (17.7)
Reciprocating physically	224 (15.7)	156 (24.8)	68 (8.5)