Bullying, defined as repeated provocation or victimisation with a power imbalance, has attracted international attention due to broad and long-lasting negative outcomes. The way in which a child responds to peer provocation has the potential to provide resilience against these outcomes and reduce the likelihood of future bullying. As the rates of bulling in Aotearoa New Zealand are some of the worst in the world, understanding how children respond to provocation has great potential to improve outcomes.

Three studies are planned using Growing Up in New Zealand data to answer the overall question: “What influences children’s responses to peer provocation?” The first study will validate a measure of children’s responses to peer provocation, and their parents’ advice regarding the same. The second will examine the influence of having experienced victimisation and bullying on children’s responses to peer provocation. The third will look at how parents advise their children to respond to provocation and how this advice relates to their children’s responses, and whether these vary by the child's level of experience with victimisation.

I plan to publish these studies in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences to increase visibility and access for future researchers.