A Systematic Review of the Prevalence and Correlates of Emotional Violence by Teachers

Abstract

There is increasing evidence for the deleterious impact of emotional violence on children`s well-being and development. This systematic review focused on a) the prevalence and (b) correlates of emotional violence by teachers. A literature search of quantitative and peer-reviewed studies published in English between 1980 and April 2021 was conducted. Eighty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies represented all geographical regions of the world, were predominantly cross-sectional and of moderate quality. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of their samples, conceptualization, and measurement of emotional violence. Results indicated that emotional violence by teachers is prevalent across cultural settings, although large variations within and between regions are noted. It is related to mental health, behavioral and academic problems of children above and beyond physical violence by teachers and victimization by peers and parents. Boys are at higher risk of experiencing emotional violence by teachers than girls. Family dysfunction, low socioeconomic status (of the family or the community), and violent school environments appear to increase risk as well. The observed patterns of co-occurrence of emotional violence with physical violence by teachers and victimization by peers as well as perpetration of violence against peers and teachers lend support to notions of poly-victimization and cycles of violence in the school settings. Future research should use representative surveys, examine antecedents, and consequences of emotional violence by teachers using longitudinal and experimental designs and evaluate interventions to prevent emotional violence by teachers.

Problem-Focused Coping and Teacher Emotional Violence: A Serial Mediation Analysis

“…Despite the limitations of the study, considering the sample characteristics, this study provides diversity to the literature on teacher violence. First, contrary to many studies in the literature (Heekes et al, 2022; Scharpf et al, 2023), the current study was conducted in a low- and middle-income country where this topic is highly under-researched. In these countries, not only teacher violence but also other forms of violence are more commonly observed (De Ribera et al, 2019; Lamaro et al, 2023; Scharpf et al, 2023).…”

“…First, contrary to many studies in the literature (Heekes et al, 2022; Scharpf et al, 2023), the current study was conducted in a low- and middle-income country where this topic is highly under-researched. In these countries, not only teacher violence but also other forms of violence are more commonly observed (De Ribera et al, 2019; Lamaro et al, 2023; Scharpf et al, 2023). However, the findings of the research cannot be generalized to countries with a lower prevalence of teacher violence.…”

“…However, emotional violence by teachers is one of the most common forms of violence that children face at school. Previous studies have indicated that emotional violence by teachers is highly prevalent in educational settings all over the world (Aras et al, 2016; Benbenishty et al, 2019; Khoury-Kassabri, 2006; Scharpf et al, 2023). For example, a study conducted by Benbenishty et al (2019) examined the prevalence of student victimization by teachers among different cultural groups in Chile and Israel.…”

“…The literature on factors contributing to teachers’ use of emotional violence is limited (Scharpf et al, 2023). Most studies focus on prevalence and its negative effects on children (e.g., Benbenishty et al, 2022; Brendgen et al, 2007; Longobardi et al, 2018).…”

“…It was found that emotional violence was more prevalent among students than other forms of violence, and this pattern was found to be consistent across all ethnic groups. Moreover, emotional violence accompanies other types of violence but is also very common on its own (Scharpf et al, 2023). For instance, Kızıltepe et al (2020) found that 53.6% of students in Turkey reported to be exposed to emotional violence by teachers and 25.2% to physical violence.…”