Bullying: Causes and Consequences

Bullying is a widespread problem in U.S. schools, affecting more than 16% of students, according to a survey funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that bullying can have serious consequences for both the victims and the bullies themselves.

Definition and Types of Bullying

Bullying is a type of behavior intended to harm or disturb the victim, explained Tonja R. Nansel, Ph.D., the study’s first author. This behavior occurs repeatedly over time and involves an imbalance of power, with the more powerful person or group attacking the less powerful one. Bullying may be physical, involving hitting or otherwise attacking the other person; verbal, involving name-calling or threats; or psychological, involving spreading rumors or excluding a person.

Prevalence of Bullying

The NICHD researchers surveyed 15,686 students in grades six-through-10 and found that 29% of them had been involved in some aspect of bullying, either as a bully, as the target of bullying, or both. Some studies suggest that this number could be even higher, with up to 70% of students reporting having witnessed bullying at school.

Consequences of Bullying

Being bullied can have serious consequences for children and adolescents, both in the short term and in the long term. According to the NICHD study, people who were bullied as children are more likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem, well into adulthood. The bullies themselves are also more likely to engage in criminal behavior later in life.

Reducing Bullying

To reduce bullying, the NICHD has adapted a curriculum called “Bullying: Be More Than a Bystander” from information on stopbullying.gov. The curriculum emphasizes that bullying is not just a simple interaction between the bully and the student being bullied and aims to engage bystanders to take a stand against bullying.

Empowering Bystanders

“Empowering youth who may find themselves a bystander to bullying is an important way to address this challenging issue,” said Triesta Fowler-Lee, M.D., who leads the initiative.

In addition to educational programs like “Bullying: Be More Than a Bystander”, there are many other ways to reduce bullying and support victims of bullying. These include creating safe and supportive school environments, promoting empathy and respect among students, and providing resources for students who have been bullied.

• Create safe and supportive school environments by implementing anti-bullying policies and procedures.
• Promote empathy and respect among students through social-emotional learning programs and activities.
• Provide resources for students who have been bullied, such as counseling and support groups.

By working together, we can help prevent bullying and create safe, supportive, and inclusive school communities where all students can thrive.