Previous findings on the association between theory of mind (ToM) and aggression in children are mixed. The "social skills deficit view" regarded ToM as a "single-edged sword" and proposed that a lack of ToM can lead to aggression, while the "double-edged sword view" proposed that children with advanced ToM can still…

Learners' challenging behaviour is a growing concern in primary schools. Reports reveal that many learners in South African primary schools are presenting with challenging behaviour - disrupting lessons, causing chaos, putting learners' and teachers' safety at risk, and interrupting school functionality. To understand this phenomenon, a systematic…

Preservice teachers will one day be responsible for addressing bullying among their students but their readiness to fulfill this critical role is unknown. This article addressed this line of inquiry by conducting a systematic review assessing preservice teachers' knowledge, attitudes, sense of responsibility, and confidence to deal with bullying.…

The relationship between teachers and students plays a critical role in the psychosocial development of children and youth. The literature documents numerous studies over several decades that have examined links between teacher-student relationships (TSRs) and bullying perpetration and victimization among students. The present meta-analytic study…

Moral disengagement (MD) refers to social-cognitive distortions that allow individuals to sidestep the self-regulatory processes that normally prevent immoral conduct. MD has been linked to bullying in childhood and adolescence, but most studies have used a cross-sectional design. Less is known about the longitudinal link. Therefore, the aim of…

Moral Disengagement (MD) has been found to be related to higher levels of different aggressive and bullying behaviours. Although some studies found that it plays an important role in cyberbullying too, results in this field are still puzzling and the association between MD and cyberbullying is still unclear. Therefore, this systematic review was…

School delinquency in public elementary, middle, and high schools has decreased in recent years, but is still a major issue that has negative mental health and academic implications for adolescents. Although research has focused on both individual-level and school-level explanations of school delinquency, it is not yet clear which macro-level…

The purpose of this literature review is to examine the research base of interventions focused on reducing bullying, aggressive, or inappropriate behavior in recess settings through behavioral-based interventions. This review extends the literature by synthesizing findings from experimental, quasi-experimental, and single-case research on the…

In this systematic review, we evaluated the quality and rigor of the current evidence base for the Second Step social-emotional learning program in middle schools. Eleven studies were coded using the "Council for Exceptional Children Standards for Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education" with an 80% weighted criterion. We…

Health-Promoting School (HPS) interventions aim to reduce bullying and violence via curriculum, environmental and family/community-engagement components. Despite evidence of their effectiveness, factors influencing the implementation of such interventions are poorly understood. This systematic review aims to examine such factors by assessing…

In recent years, educational practitioners have become more aware of the importance of cultivating students' social and emotional skills, in order to facilitate adaptation beyond academic contexts. Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to regulate one's own and others' emotions appropriately, has often been targeted in educational…

In order to ensure that all students have access to the everyday activities and lessons of school, educators must work to create safe educational spaces and prevent bullying and harassment in schools. This literature review presents the research highlights on: (1) prevalence and impact; (2) risk factors; (3) school obligations under law; (4)…

The recent death of Amy Joyner, a promising Wilmington, Delaware, high school sophomore demonstrates very clearly the ways in which Black girls are made vulnerable in urban schools. Joyner, an honor roll student, was jumped by a group of girls in the bathroom just before classes began. The alleged cause of the fight was jealousy over a boy. Black…

This article summarizes the accomplishments of research on school safety in the past quarter century, identifies important gaps, and indicates promising directions for further progress. Although closely related, there are distinguishable bodies of research on physical and psychological safety. Physical safety research concerns the prevention of…

This study developed a conceptual model of hierarchical microaggression phenomena in colleges and universities in the United States. Young, Anderson, and Steward coined the term "hierarchical microaggression" in 2015, which refers to microaggression towards defenceless and less powerful stakeholders. Because the hierarchical…