Overcoming bullying: A phenomenological study of students' perceptions

Abstract

Efforts to reduce bullying in schools require effective strategies. However, existing approaches primarily reflect teachers' perspectives, with limited attention to how students perceive and manage bullying. This study explores students' strategies for coping with bullying in schools in Special Region of Yogyakarta. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires administered via Google Forms. The 41 participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data analysis followed Miles, Huberman, and Saldana's interactive model, including data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that students cope with bullying through social, internal, and external factors. Some effective strategies include reporting bullying incidents to parents, teachers, or peers, and fostering healthy friendships through participation in extracurricular and organizational activities. These findings highlight the importance of empowering students with coping mechanisms and promoting supportive school environments to mitigate the impact of bullying.        

Keywords: Bullying; coping strategy; phenomenology; student perception