Abstract:
Bystanders of school bullying are relatively under-researched in the literature on bullying because most studies
in this area focus primarily on bullies or on the direct victims of bullying. In this study, we aimed to explore the
lived experience of early adolescent bystanders who witnessed bullying in a South African school. We followed
a qualitative research approach and adopted a phenomenological research design. We purposefully selected 10
early adolescent bystanders to participate in the study. We recorded the interviews that were then transcribed.
We used inductive thematic analysis to analyse the qualitative data. The findings of this study revealed the
various emotional and behavioural reactions of bystanders to witnessing school bullying. We recommend that
anti-bullying programs be included in the curriculum so that teachers and school psychologists can emphasise
the negative impacts of bullying that include psychological, educational, and emotional consequences on
everyone who is exposed to it.
