Enacting Teacher Professional Agency through Social Literacy for Bullying Prevention: An Instrumental Case Study in an Indonesian Primary School

Authors

  • Kosilah Universitas Muhamadiyah Buton
  • Maria Ulfa Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton
  • Annisa Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton
  • Asmina Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61255/jupiter.v4i4.1723

Keywords:

Bullying Prevention, Primary Education, Social Literacy, Teacher Professional Agency

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to explain how teachers’ professional agency is enacted through social literacy practices in preventing bullying

Methods An instrumental qualitative case study was conducted in an Indonesian primary school involving 24 purposively selected participants: eight classroom teachers, one principal, one student-affairs teacher, eight students, and six parents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, 18 observation sessions, and five school documents, then analyzed thematically using manual coding.

Findings showed that professional agency developed through six processes: professional motivation and values, recognition of bullying patterns, professional judgment, selection of social literacy practices, preventive and responsive action, and monitoring and follow-up. Social literacy was enacted through empathy development, perspective-taking, ethical communication, inclusive group learning, and reflective dialogue. However, inconsistent teacher responses, limited supervision, non-standardized documentation, and incomplete school–family follow-up constrained sustained intervention.

Research Implications that bullying prevention requires integrated teacher development, shared school procedures, and stronger family collaboration.

Originality Its originality lies in positioning social literacy as the pedagogical mechanism linking teacher motivation, professionalism, and enacted performance within a context-dependent model of professional agency.

Abstract views: 7 , PDF downloads: 7

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Baraldsnes, D., & Caravita, S. C. S. (2026). The relations of teacher use of anti-bullying components at classroom and individual levels with teacher and school characteristics. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 8, 20–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-024-00284-z

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE Publications.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2024). Supporting best practice in reflexive thematic analysis reporting in Palliative Medicine: A review of published research and introduction to the Reflexive Thematic Analysis Reporting Guidelines. Palliative Medicine, 38(6), 608–616. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163241234800

Brodie, K. (2021). Teacher agency in professional learning communities. Professional Development in Education, 47(4), 560–573. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2019.1689523

Burger, C., Strohmeier, D., & Kollerová, L. (2022). Teachers can make a difference in bullying: Effects of teacher interventions on students’ adoption of bully, victim, bully-victim or defender roles across time. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51, 2312–2327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01674-6

Byrne, D. (2022). A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Quality & Quantity, 56, 1391–1412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01182-y

Castleberry, A., & Nolen, A. (2018). Thematic analysis of qualitative research data: Is it as easy as it sounds? Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 10(6), 807–815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.03.019

Cipriano, C., Strambler, M. J., Naples, L. H., Ha, C., Kirk, M., Wood, M., Sehgal, K., Zieher, A. K., Eveleigh, A., McCarthy, M., Funaro, M., Ponnock, A., Chow, J. C., & Durlak, J. (2023). The state of evidence for social and emotional learning: A contemporary meta-analysis of universal school-based SEL interventions. Child Development, 94(5), 1181–1204. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13968

Dawes, M., Malamut, S. T., Guess, H., & Lohrbach, E. (2024). Teachers’ attitudes toward bullying and intervention responses: A systematic and meta-analytic review. Educational Psychology Review, 36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09951-5

Divecha, D., & Brackett, M. (2020). Rethinking school-based bullying prevention through the lens of social and emotional learning: A bioecological perspective. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 2, 93–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-019-00019-5

Eldh, A. C., Årestedt, L., & Berterö, C. (2020). Quotations in qualitative studies: Reflections on constituents, custom, and purpose. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920969268

Fischer, S. M., John, N., & Bilz, L. (2021). Teachers’ self-efficacy in preventing and intervening in school bullying: A systematic review. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 3, 196–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-020-00079-y

Gaffney, H., Ttofi, M. M., & Farrington, D. P. (2021). Effectiveness of school-based programs to reduce bullying perpetration and victimization: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 17(2), e1143. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1143

Garandeau, C. F., Laninga-Wijnen, L., & Salmivalli, C. (2022). Effects of the KiVa anti-bullying program on affective and cognitive empathy in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 51(4), 515–529. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2020.1846541

Kiger, M. E., & Varpio, L. (2020). Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131. Medical Teacher, 42(8), 846–854. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2020.1755030

Lau, J., Vähäsantanen, K., & Collin, K. (2024). Teachers’ professional agency in a centralisation-decentralisation system and a hierarchical cultural context: The case of Hong Kong. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 32(3), 699–719. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2022.2086606

Levitt, H. M., Bamberg, M., Creswell, J. W., Frost, D. M., Josselson, R., & Suárez-Orozco, C. (2018). Journal article reporting standards for qualitative primary, qualitative meta-analytic, and mixed methods research in psychology. American Psychologist, 73(1), 26–46. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000151

Li, J., & Hesketh, T. (2026). Intervention to address bullying in primary schools in rural China: Implementing a social emotional learning program. BMC Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-04261-7

Longobardi, C., Borello, L., Thornberg, R., & Settanni, M. (2020). Empathy and defending behaviours in school bullying: The mediating role of motivation to defend victims. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(2), 473–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12289

Mandira, M. R., & Stoltz, T. (2021). Bullying risk and protective factors among elementary school students over time: A systematic review. International Journal of Educational Research, 109, 101838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2021.101838

Moran, E., Sloan, S., Walsh, E., & Taylor, L. K. (2024). Exploring restorative practices: Teachers’ experiences with early adolescents. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2024.100323

O’Brien, S. O., Campbell, M., & Whiteford, C. (2024). A review of factors affecting teacher intervention in peer bullying incidents: A call for more nuanced professional development. Journal of School Violence, 23(3), 308–318. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2023.2289117

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2023). PISA 2022 Results (Volume I and II) ‑ Country Notes: Indonesia. Pisa, 10. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2022-results-volume-i-and-ii-country-notes_ed6fbcc5-en/indonesia_c2e1ae0e-en.html

Parker, C., & Bickmore, K. (2020). Classroom peace circles: Teachers’ professional learning and implementation of restorative dialogue. Teaching and Teacher Education, 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103129

Rosidah, A., Damayanti, I., & Soraya, S. Z. (2026). Strengthening social literacy among elementary students through the integration of SDGs into social studies instruction. Primary: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar, 15(2), 243–254. https://doi.org/10.33578/jpfkip.v15i2.243-254

Samara, M., Da Silva Nascimento, B., El-Asam, A., Hammuda, S., & Khattab, N. (2021). How can bullying victimisation lead to lower academic achievement? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the mediating role of cognitive-motivational factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052209

Shavard, G. (2022). Teacher agency in collaborative lesson planning: Stabilising or transforming professional practice? Teachers and Teaching, 28(5), 555–567. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2022.2062745

Siddiqui, S., & Schultze-Krumbholz, A. (2026). Evaluation of the first implementation of the Sohanjana anti-bullying intervention: Perspectives of the institutional staff. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 8, 465–481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-025-00287-4

Tolmatcheff, C., Veenstra, R., Roskam, I., & Galand, B. (2024). Examining the link between implementation fidelity, quality, and effectiveness of teacher-delivered anti-bullying interventions in a randomized controlled trial. Prevention Science, 25(3), 407–420. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-023-01580-8

Trach, J., Garandeau, C. F., & Malamut, S. T. (2023). Peer victimization and empathy for victims of bullying: A test of bidirectional associations in childhood and adolescence. Child Development, 94(4), 905–921. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13907

van Aalst, D. A. E., Huitsing, G., & Veenstra, R. (2024). A systematic review on primary school teachers’ characteristics and behaviors in identifying, preventing, and reducing bullying. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 6, 124–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-022-00145-7

van Aalst, D. A. E., Huitsing, G., & Veenstra, R. (2025). Understanding teachers’ likelihood of intervention in bullying situations: Testing the theory of planned behavior. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 7, 471–481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-024-00209-w

van Verseveld, M. D. A., Fekkes, M., Fukkink, R. G., & Oostdam, R. J. (2021). Teachers’ experiences with difficult bullying situations in the school: An explorative study. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 41(1), 43–69. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431620939193

Weber, C., & Vereenooghe, L. (2020). Reducing conflicts in school environments using restorative practices: A systematic review. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100009

Yeo, S., & Han, S. (2025). Which quotations to use? Guidance on selecting and reporting quotations in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251353449

Yoo, K.-E., Cheon, S. H., & Reeve, J. (2025). Bullying is socially regulated, but autonomy-supportive teaching and autonomy need satisfaction are effective antidotes. Motivation and Emotion. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-025-10128-y

Downloads

Published

2026-09-28

How to Cite

Kosilah, K., Ulfa, M., Annisa, A., & Asmina, A. (2026). Enacting Teacher Professional Agency through Social Literacy for Bullying Prevention: An Instrumental Case Study in an Indonesian Primary School. Jurnal Pendidikan Terapan, 4(4), 401–416. https://doi.org/10.61255/jupiter.v4i4.1723

Issue

Section

Articles