Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Bullying and Cyberbullying: Their Legal Status and Use in Psychological Assessment

Muthanna Samara, Vicky Burbidge, Aiman El Asam, Mairéad Foody, Peter K. Smith, Hisham Morsi

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2017

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Summary

This qualitative study examined how UK psychologists and lawyers address bullying and cyberbullying in their professional practice. Through interviews and thematic analysis, the authors identified critical gaps in psychological assessment procedures regarding bullying history, noted that existing legislation is ample but problematic, and emphasised the need for interdisciplinary revision of clinical practices and legal policy to reduce bullying prevalence and associated psychological distress.

UK applicability

The findings are directly applicable to UK psychological practice and legal policy, as the study was conducted with UK-based practitioners. The recommendations for integrating bullying and cyberbullying assessment into routine clinical psychological evaluation and for clarifying or revising UK legislation are intended to improve professional outcomes within the UK health and justice systems.

Key measures

Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with practitioner psychologists (n=5) and lawyers (n=4)

Outcomes reported

The study identified three main themes regarding how bullying and cyberbullying are defined, characterised, assessed and addressed within psychological and legal practice in the UK. Key findings included gaps in the inclusion of bullying history in psychological risk assessments and recommendations for revising clinical psychological practices and legal policies.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Other / interdisciplinary
Study type
Research
Study design
Qualitative research
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United Kingdom
System type
Other
DOI
10.3390/ijerph14121449
Catalogue ID
BFmor3gavd-hhr9b7

Topic tags

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