The Characteristics of Targets of Bullying Among Chinese Youth Attending Key Versus Non-Key Schools: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

The current study examined the characteristics of targets of bullying using a sample of students from two distinct school types (key vs. non-key), wherein key middle schools are defined as having better teaching resources and higher performing students than non-key middle schools. Open-ended, self-report surveys were collected from 322 Chinese students in sixth to 11th grades. Two cycle coding methods analyses generated 3,566 original codes in which 21 main categories and 77 subcategories were extracted. Five major themes emerged: multiple deviant personalities; prominent puniness and imperfect body characteristics accompanied by polarization of appearance; polarization school engagement and academic performance; psychological and behavioral problems; and problematic family and social contexts. Results of chi-square analysis indicated characteristics of targets of bullying were significantly different between key and non-key school in 12 main categories. Implications for ecological systems theory and person-group dissimilarity theory as well as bullying prevention approaches in schools are discussed.