Faye Mishna

Learning Disabilities and Bullying Double Jeopardy

Independently, learning disabilities (LD) and involvement in bullying each pose a risk for social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Based on the research to date and on the characteristics common to children with LD and children who are bullied, there is reason to believe that children with LD are at increased risk of victimization. However, there is little research on the relationship between LD and bullying. This article presents factors and characteristics that make children and youth with LD vulnerable to bullying. Risk factors and effects of bullying are reviewed. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Cyber Bullying Behaviors Among Middle and High School Students

Little research has been conducted that comprehensively examines cyber bullying with a large and diverse sample. The present study examines the prevalence, impact, and differential experience of cyber bullying among a large and diverse sample of middle and high school students (N = 2,186) from a large urban center. The survey examined technology use, cyber bullying behaviors, and the psychosocial impact of bullying and being bullied. About half (49.5%) of students indicated they had been bullied online and 33.7% indicated they had bullied others online. Most bullying was perpetrated by and to friends and participants generally did not tell anyone about the bullying. Participants reported feeling angry, sad, and depressed after being bullied online. Participants bullied others online because it made them feel as though they were funny, popular, and powerful, although many indicated feeling guilty afterward. Greater attention is required to understand and reduce cyber bullying within childrens social worlds and with the support of educators and parents.

Tapping the Perspectives of Children: Emerging Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research

The unique ethical issues related to conducting research with children are insufficiently distinguished from issues in working with vulnerable groups, despite a shift to recognizing children as active in the research process. Qualitative researchers are challenged to consider complex ethical issues related to children and are obligated to protect their rights, freedoms, safety, and dignity. While some issues are similar to those in any research context, the nature of the researcher-participant relationship, and the unstructured nature of qualitative research methods, add a dimension of risk. This article examines ethical issues in qualitative research with children: (1) consent and assent; (2) the obligation to protect children from harm while respecting

Factors Associated With Perceptions and Responses to Bullying Situations by Children, Parents, Teachers, and Principals

Abstract This study provides one of the first assessments of bullying based on the perceptions of victimized children and their parents, teachers, and school administrators. It augments the extensive quantitative research findings already reported in the literature. The qualitative methodology privileges the “lived experience” of study participants. Interviews were conducted with children in grades 4 and 5 who self-identified as having been bullied, their parents, and educators. This study provides evidence to suggest that several factors influence individuals’ perceptions and responses to particular bullying incidents. These factors include whether the incident matches an individuals definition, whether the child “fits” expectations about how victimized children behave and present themselves, and developmental features of bullying and what is considered normal.

Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Cyber Abuse of Youth: A Systematic Review

Objectives: The Internet has created a new communication tool, particularly for young people whose use of electronic communication is exploding worldwide. While there are many benefits that result from electronic-based communication, the Internet is concurrently a potential site for abuse and victimization. Methods: This paper systematically reviews the effectiveness of cyber abuse interventions in increasing Internet safety knowledge and decreasing risky online behavior. Results: Significant results were found between pre- and posttest scores related to Internet safety knowledge. Most results related to risky online behavior were not significant. Conclusions: Results provide evidence that participation in psychoeducational Internet safety interventions is associated with an increase in Internet safety knowledge but is not significantly associated with a change in risky online behavior.

Traversing the Margins: Intersectionalities in the Bullying of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth

SUMMARY This study explores the perspectives of service providers and youth advocates on bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and intersectionalities in LGBT peer victimization. In depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine key informants (4 male, 4 female, 1 transgender male; 4 gay, 3 lesbian, 2 non-identified; 6 white, 1 South Asian, 2 Middle Eastern) recruited using purposive sampling from diverse education and social service settings. Narrative thematic analysis and a constant comparative method were used to identify themes. Five themes emerged from the data: (1) “transgressing gender norm boundaries”; (2) homophobic sexism vs. sexist homophobia; (3) “you choose sexuality or you choose race”; (4) newcomer youth and citizenship; and (5) “multiple wires together … create the cage.” Findings suggest the importance of an intersectional approach to conceptualizing and addressing LGBT bullying and to uncovering the differential experiences of bullying among LGBT youth. Bullying related to sexual orientation should not be assumed to be the only or primary form of violence shaping the lives of LGBT youth.

A Multi-Method Impact Evaluation of a Therapeutic Summer Camp Program

This article reports on a multi-method impact evaluation of a therapeutic summer camp program for children and youth with learning disabilities and related psychosocial problems. The study examines the degree to which program objectives were achieved through a pre-camp, post-camp, follow-up design using a series of standardized instruments, camp evaluations, and interviews with parents. The results indicate that the campers reported less social isolation, experienced modest improvements in self-esteem, and expressed high levels of satisfaction with the camp. The measures for social skills generally failed to register significant changes, although parents reported improvements in the areas of cooperation, responsibility, and self-control.

How to Critically Evaluate Case Studies in Social Work

The purpose of this article is to develop guidelines to assist practitioners and researchers in evaluating and developing rigorous case studies. The main concern in evaluating a case study is to accurately assess its quality and ultimately to offer clients social work interventions informed by the best available evidence. To assess the quality of a case study, we propose criteria, including transferability/external validity, credibility/internal validity, confirmability/construct validity, and dependability/reliability. Guidelines are presented in a phase-oriented framework: research design, data collection, and data analysis. Finally, several dimensions to enhance the quality at each phase of the guidelines in evaluating the case study are discussed.

I'm Not the Only One! Group Therapy with Older Children and Adolescents Who Have Learning Disabilities

Abstract Children and adolescents with learning disabilities (LD) are vulnerable to psychosocial difficulties. Both the detrimental impact of LD on social adjustment and the significance of peer relations for developmental needs make group therapy a natural intervention. Despite modifications that are required due to their cognitive deficits, many students with LD fit the criteria and can benefit from group psychotherapy. In this paper, a model of group therapy for older children and adolescents with LD is presented. The approach is informed by a combination of self psychology, mutual aid, and interpersonal group therapy. The leaders use special techniques to accommodate the LD and to foster the group process. Examples are presented to illustrate the approach.

Group Therapy for Boys with Features of Asperger Syndrome and Concurrent Learning Disabilities: Finding a Peer Group

In this paper, we present a pilot group therapy model with modifications, for boys who meet the criteria of Asperger Syndrome as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994), and who have concurrent learning disabilities. It is recognized that learning disabilities are often a feature of Asperger Syndrome. Children and adolescents with learning disabilities are vulnerable to experiencing social and emotional problems, in particular difficulties with peers. The social functioning of children and adolescents who have Asperger Syndrome is greatly impeded, although they are motivated to have social contact and to make friends. This paper describes how elements of interpersonal group therapy were combined with modifications, which address the unique social and cognitive profiles of the boys in this group. Case examples are provided to illustrate the group model. The group members and their parents were interviewed after the group and two years later, to obtain their views of the group. Their responses are presented.