Bullying behaviors among male and female prisoners : a study of adult and young offenders

This study describes behaviors generally recognised as bullying among male and female prisoners, with a subsidiary aim of comparing adult and young offenders. The study also describes the different groups involved in bullying and provides a description of the ways in which victims react to their victimization. It was predicted that gender and prison category differences would be found across the different types of bullying, with females reporting more indirect forms than males, who would report more direct forms. It was also predicted that young offenders would report more bullying than adults. The sample consisted of 98 young offenders (21 female and 77 male) and 211 adult offenders (53 female and 158 male). Inmates were surveyed via a self-report behavior checklist (Direct and Indirect Prisoner behavior Checklist: DIPC). More than half of the sample reported being bullied and more than half reported to have "bullied others" at least once in the past week. Males and young offenders were more likely to report bullying others than females and adults, respectively. Males were more likely than females to report bullying others both directly and indirectly. Four different groups of inmates were identified: bullies, bully/victims, pure victims, and not involved. These categories varied in different gender and prison status groups. Victims reported reacting predominantly by crying, staying in their cell when they could be out, and trying to get moved.