Perceptions of students on bullying and the family: a qualitative focus on school health

Abstract Background School bullying represents an expressive phenomenon in Brazil and in the world, impacting in the health and development of children and adolescents. Objective To analyze the relationships between student perceptions of school bullying and family interactions. Method This is a qualitative study, in which 55 students participated. Semi-structured interviews were used in the data collection and analyzed according to the content analysis, in its thematic modality, in the software Atlas.Ti. The theoretical-methodological reference adopted was the Bioecological Theory of Development. Results It was revealed that a) individual characteristics resulting from the development process involving the family are the factors that best explain bullying; b) negative experiences in the family context can favor the involvement of students in situations of bullying; and c) positive aspects of families can be considered as strengths to be explored by intervention programs. Conclusion Relationships between perceptions about school bullying and family interactions were identified. The research increases understanding about the complexity of bullying and may subsidize initiatives for the training of professionals who work in the health area and have the families as a matrix of action in primary care.