Health Background


Bullying: Family & Social Health

A survey sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Nickelodeon reported in 2001 that almost three-quarters (74%) of 8 to 11 year olds said that teasing and bullying were problems at their school. Among 12 to 15 year-olds, 86% reported a problem. Both age groups said that teasing and bullying were bigger problems than racism, AIDS, and the pressure to have sex or to try alcohol and/or drugs.

Bullying is a form of violence in which one person is targeted by one or more other persons with repeated negative actions, such as name-calling, making faces, obscene gesturing, malicious teasing, threats, extortion, rumors, and violent actions such as hitting or kicking. Sometimes, the person is simply excluded from the group.

An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that one-third of U.S. students have experienced bullying; this is higher than previous studies which show that approximately 15% of students — about one in seven — are involved in bully/victim problems. A Norwegian study suggests that about 9% of these students are victims and 7% bully others with some regularity. International research has confirmed that bullying is a universal problem and that rates of bullying are similar across various nations.

A power imbalance is at the heart of bullying. The bully is usually stronger, more aggressive, and more confident than the victim. Victims are often quiet, passive children who don't retaliate or act assertively to stop the bully. Bullies may be older than their victims, or may pick on those who are members of a cultural minority, such as gays or lesbians.

Studies reveal that boys are more likely to be both the perpetrators and victims of bullying. Boys are also more likely to bully girls, than vice versa. Boys are more likely to bully physically; girls are more likely to use rejection and slander as their methods of choice.

It's a myth that bullies are insecure beneath their bravado. Research suggests that their self-esteem is usually average or above average. Bullies are, however, more likely to come from homes where aggressive behavior is modeled. Children who are active and impulsive are more likely than others to become bullies. Among boys, those who are physically stronger than their peers may become bullies, although strength alone is not predictive of bullying behavior.

Victims of bullying often suffer from fear, anxiety, and low self-esteem as a result of the bullying. They may avoid social interaction with other children. The National Education Association reports that 160,000 children miss one or more school days each month out of fear of bullying. One study found that boys who were bullied in childhood were more likely than others to suffer depression and lower self-esteem in their 20's than those who weren't.

Bullies also suffer long-term consequences. They're at a greater risk than others for becoming aggressive adults and facing criminal convictions.

Bullying can also cause fear and anxiety in children who are neither bullies nor victims but observe bullying in their schools.

Students in the Kaiser/Nickelodeon survey reported that talking to adults did little to alleviate the problem. Most bullying incidents occur outside the view of adults, who can't intervene if they're unaware of the problem. However, a social environment in the school that doesn't directly address problems of bullying allows it to continue. One study of gay and lesbian teens reported that these students felt teachers ignored their harassment 97% of the time.

Providing adequate supervision of students is a first step toward addressing bullying at school. Further, the social climate of the school needs to be characterized by warmth and acceptance of all students, with high standards of behavior for students and teachers towards one another. Teachers' attitudes towards aggression n play an important role in reducing bullying.

Here are some other important things schools can do to stop bullying:

• Provide effective consequences for bullies.
• Have good communication between parents and teachers.
• Provide all students the opportunities and training to develop good interpersonal skills.
• Set a tone in the school that bullying behavior will not be tolerated.