Study finds peer sexual harassment begins by Grade 4 in Sweden

A new doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg reveals that peer‑to‑peer sexual harassment in Sweden often begins as early as the fourth grade and can persist throughout lower secondary school. The research, conducted by psychology doctoral candidate Aziz‑Kaan Dönmez, examined students in grades 4‑9 and found that the majority of individuals who perpetrate harassment have themselves been subjected to similar behavior.

Dönmez’s findings, which will be formally presented during his thesis defense on 2 October, highlight a cycle of victimisation among Swedish children and adolescents. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that early‑onset peer harassment is both widespread and reciprocal, underscoring the need for preventative measures and interventions within schools.