Understanding Bullying
Bullying is a form of youth violence. Although definitions of bullying vary, most agree that bullying includes:
* Attack or intimidation with the intention to cause fear, distress, or harm that is either physical (hitting, punching), verbal (name calling, teasing), or psychological/relational (rumors, social exclusion);
* A real or perceived imbalance of power between the bully and the victim; and
* Repeated attacks or intimidation between the same children over time.
Bullying can occur in person or through technology (electronic aggression, or cyberbullying). Electronic aggression is bullying that occurs through e-mail, a chat room, instant messaging, a website, text messaging, or videos or pictures posted on websites or sent through cell phones.
A young person can be a bully, a victim, or both (bully-victim).
How does bullying affect health?
Bullying can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, and even death. Victimized youth are at increased risk for mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, psychosomatic complaints such as headaches, and poor school adjustment. Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance use, academic problems, and violence later in adolescence and adulthood. Compared to youth who only bully, or who are only victims, bully-victims suffer the most serious consequences and are at greater risk for both mental health and behavior problems.
Who is at risk for bullying?
A number of factors can increase the risk of a youth engaging in or experiencing bullying.5 However, the presence of these factors does not always mean that a young person will become a bully or a victim.
Some of the factors associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in bullying behavior include:
* Impulsivity (poor self-control)
* Harsh parenting by caregivers
* Attitudes accepting of violence
Some of the factors associated with a higher likelihood of victimization include:
* Friendship difficulties
* Poor self-esteem
* Quiet, passive manner with lack of assertiveness
Why is bullying a public
health problem?
Bullying is widespread in the United States.
* In a 2009 nationwide survey, about 20% of high school students reported being bullied on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey.3
* During the 2007-2008 school year, 25% of public schools reported that bullying occurred among students on a daily or weekly basis. A higher percentage of middle schools reported daily or weekly occurrences of bullying compared to primary and high schools.4
* In 2007, about 4% of 12- to 18-year-old students reported having been cyberbullied during the school year.4
