Students as key allies in combating school bullying: Leveraging peer perspectives to recognize victimization in high-risk groups.

This study investigates the role of student peers in recognizing high-risk victims of school bullying in Taiwanese schools by comparing students' perceptions and actual observations of bullying prevalence across ten victim types. Findings indicate that students with personality or behavioral problems are most frequently targeted, followed by those with abnormal appearance and hygiene issues, with peer reports generally aligning well with observed bullying incidents. However, bullying related to sexual orientation or gender identity showed a discrepancy, as students perceived it to be more prevalent than observed, possibly due to subtle forms of bullying or societal factors in Taiwan. The study underscores the value of incorporating peer feedback into bullying identification and prevention strategies, while recommending targeted support for vulnerable groups and enhanced education on diversity and inclusion.