School bullying prevention and causes

Experts have provided guidance on identifying and preventing school bullying, focusing on both institutional and parental roles.

Educator José Antonio Luengo identified the start of the school year as a high-risk period for aggression. Citing data from Complutense University and the ColaCao Foundation, he noted that classrooms often contain victims and aggressors. To mitigate this, he suggested that schools foster a culture of safety through explicit anti-tolerance policies and peer-support mentorship programs. He also advised parents to move away from phrases like “don’t get involved in trouble,” which he argues promotes insensitivity.

Complementing these views, Eglė Tamulionytė of the ‘Be patyčių’ campaign detailed the psychological and environmental drivers of bullying. She noted that children may act out due to unmanaged emotions like anger or fear, or to gain social status within peer hierarchies. Tamulionytė also highlighted the influence of adult conflict resolution models and the complexities of digital harassment. She recommended that parents use calm communication and open-ended questions to understand the context of incidents while maintaining clear boundaries regarding hurtful behavior.