The Perception and Roles of School Mental Health Professionals Regarding School Bullying ( Suluk Audwani ) in Oman: A Qualitative Study in an Urban Setting

Muna Al Saadoon, Rawaa Abubakr Abuelgassim Eltayib, Amjad Hassan Alhaj, Moon Fai Chan, Said Aldhafri and Samir Al-Adawi ()
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Muna Al Saadoon: Department of Child Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
Rawaa Abubakr Abuelgassim Eltayib: Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
Amjad Hassan Alhaj: Sociology and Social Work, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
Moon Fai Chan: Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
Said Aldhafri: Department of Psychology, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
Samir Al-Adawi: Department of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: With increasing mental health risks among school populations and prevalent bullying, school mental health professionals (SMHP) are crucial globally. This study explores the perspectives of SMHP on bullying in Omani schools, focussing on definitions, types, current practices, and future strategies. Involving 50 Omani SMHP from Muscat Governorate with at least three years of experience, data was collected through structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Six key themes emerged: The definition of bullying, its components, common types, current anti-bullying practices, challenges, and future suggestions. Bullying, termed “سلوكعدواني” ( Suluk Audwani ), meaning aggressive behavior, includes five components: perpetrators, victims, harmful behavior, spectators, and psychosocial factors. Verbal bullying, physical bullying, and cyberbullying are common and vary by age. SMHP frequently employ awareness-raising and psychological first aid. Challenges include resistance from students and parents and institutional barriers. In the future, SMHP will emphasize greater awareness to effectively address Suluk Audwani. Oman has adopted international best practices to recruit SMHP. SMHP’s perspectives on Suluk Audwani reflect both their training and Omani cultural influences. Future research should explore various social strata to improve evidence-based understanding and prevention of Suluk Audwani .

Keywords: bullying; Omani schools; focus group discussions; school mental health programs; perception of bullying; linguistic contexts; Suluk Audwani (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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