The Future of Education
Bullying and Violence Experience of Youngsters with Cognitive and/or Mental Health Disabilities – A Training to Increase their Self-Esteem
Andrea Viertelmayr, Pro Mente Upper Austria, Associaton for Mental and Social Health (Austria)
Gisela Oehlinger, Pro Mente Upper AustrianAssociation for Mental and Social Health (Austria)
Karin Bakracevic Vukman, University of Maribor, Department of Psychology (Slovenia)
Bojan Musil, University of Maribor, Department of Psychology (Slovenia)
Sara Tement, University of Maribor, Department of Psychology (Slovenia)
Abstract
Although numerous studies show that violence and bullying at school is a very recent phenomenon, less attention is paid to this topic in an international context. This article is based on an international study and addresses the bullying-, and violence experience of youngsters with cognitive and/or psychiatric disabilities. Participating countries were Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Spain. Data was collected from questionnaires and face to face interviews. A total of 204 boys and girls between the ages of 10 - 22 years were asked about their experiences in the school context and family environment. The qualitative analysis of the interviews show, that the central (subjective or psychological) issue in youngsters with disabilities, who have been experiencing violence, is low self-esteem. The most important aim of this intervention is to increase self-esteem and develop appropriate coping strategies, which will enable empowerment for youngsters with special needs.
The quantitative results show, that the target group have experienced violence, and those of girls do not seriously differ from those of boys. It is noticeable, that girls find themselves more often in the role of victims. Accordingly to these results, interventions were developed and will be tested, as a pilot workshop module, in an EU Daphne Project.
