Teacher Bullying and Emotional Harm: Power, Silence, and Gendered Struggles for Voice in Indonesian Schools

Lestari, Dinna Surya Adi and Setyawan, Jefri (2026) Teacher Bullying and Emotional Harm: Power, Silence, and Gendered Struggles for Voice in Indonesian Schools. Journal of Health Education, 11 (1). p. 35354. ISSN 2528-2905

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Abstract

Background: Teacher-to-student bullying in Indonesian schools often operates subtly within hierarchical educational cultures. This study aimed to examine how institutional power dynamics and cultural expectations shape students’ perceptions of bullying and their emotional well-being, with the working hy- pothesis that hierarchical norms and respect for authority influence recogni- tion, reporting, and coping. Methods: This qualitative study employed Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 12 participants (male students, female students, and teachers) from a sen- ior high school in Indonesia. Discussions examined teacher authority, bully- ing behaviors, and students’ emotional responses. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, involving familiarization, initial coding, and iterative theme development across groups. Results: Participants described teacher behavior that was considered bullying, causing emotional distress. This study highlights how disciplinary practices, which function as symbolic violence, have become commonplace in institution- al dynamics, thereby inhibiting students from complaining or reporting bully- ing. This research offers a new perspective by linking power structures and gen- dered emotional responses to the persistence of bullying in educational settings. Conclusions: Teacher-to-student bullying is intertwined with institutional and cultural hierarchies that shape students’ perceptions and coping, contributing to emotional suppression and disengagement. Addressing it requires a compre- hensive, culturally attuned approach that strengthens institutional support sys- tems and centers teacher empathy.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	teacher bullying; power dynamics; Indonesia; youth mental health; educational psychology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Psychology > Department of Psychology
Depositing User:	BAMBANG SEPTIAWAN
Date Deposited:	04 Aug 2026 08:12
Last Modified:	04 Aug 2026 08:16
URI:	http://repository.ubaya.ac.id/id/eprint/51100

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