Using the big five personality traits to evaluate bullying roles in the school environment

Abstract

Bullying among primary school pupils has become an alarming issue as it affects both emotional well-being and academic achievement. This study aims to identify the personality traits that influence pupils’ tendencies to become bullies, victims, or bully-victims. A total of 328 Year 6 pupils from several states in Malaysia participated in this survey-based research. The questionnaire instrument was developed based on the Big Five Personality Traits model and analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The findings revealed that personality dimensions such as emotional stability and agreeableness are strongly associated with pupils’ roles in bullying. Victims scored higher in agreeableness, whereas bullies scored lower in emotional stability. This study contributes to a better understanding of the psychological factors influencing bullying behavior, providing important implications for the development of effective school-based prevention and intervention programs.