Copyright Malvin Porter, Jr. 2010 - acumen - The University of ...

someone cares (Naylor & Cowie, 1999). These findings suggest the importance of understanding
the role of informal forms of peer social support in buffering the negative consequences
associated with bullying.
Teacher Social Support
Research finds that teachers play an important role in preventing and modeling
appropriate behavior in dealing with victimization (James et al., 2008). One study found that
nonbully/nonvictims are nearly twice as likely as victims of bullying to report that there is a
teacher with whom they can talk about their problems (Furlong & Chung, 1995). Thus, teacher
social support is important for maintaining optimal daily functioning for victims of bullying and
for decreasing the stress of being victimized by bullies (Cobb, 1976; S. Cohen & Wills, 1985).
Social support from teachers is a valuable resource that contributes to students’ academic
and social success by promoting academic achievement, school engagement, and well-being in
the classroom (Brewster & Bowen, 2004; Chen, 2005; Vedder, Boekaerts, & Seegers, 2005).
Emotional support from teachers, in particular, has been linked both to students’ academic
competence and school adjustment (Malecki & Demaray, 2003; Smokowski, Reynolds, &
Bezruczko, 1999). Teacher social support contributes to a child’s mental health. Studies show
that teacher social support is correlated negatively with depression, and positively with self-
esteem and social skills (Colarossi & Eccles, 2003; Malecki & Demaray, 2003). When children
perceive that their teacher is fair and cares about them, they are less likely to engage in health
compromising behaviors such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; violence; sexual activity;
and suicide (McNeely & Falci, 2004).
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