Bullying Behaviors Among US Youth: Prevalence and Association With Psychosocial Adjustment.
Nansel, Tonja R. PhD; Overpeck, Mary DrPH; Pilla, Ramani S. PhD; Ruan, W. June MA; Simons-Morton, Bruce EdD, MPH; Scheidt, Peter MD, MPH
[Article]
JAMA.
285(16):2094-2100, April 25, 2001.
(Format: HTML)
Context: Although violence among US youth is a current major concern, bullying is infrequently addressed and no national data on the prevalence of bullying are available.
Objectives: To measure the prevalence of bullying behaviors among US youth and to determine the association of bullying and being bullied with indicators of psychosocial adjustment, including problem behavior, school adjustment, social/emotional adjustment, and parenting.
Design, Setting, and Participants: Analysis of data from a representative sample of 15 686 students in grades 6 through 10 in public and private schools throughout the United States who completed the World Health Organization's Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey during the spring of 1998.
Main Outcome Measure: Self-report of involvement in bullying and being bullied by others.
Results: A total of 29.9% of the sample reported moderate or frequent involvement in bullying, as a bully (13.0%), one who was bullied (10.6%), or both (6.3%). Males were more likely than females to be both perpetrators and targets of bullying. The frequency of bullying was higher among 6th- through 8th-grade students than among 9th- and 10th-grade students. Perpetrating and experiencing bullying were associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment (P<.001); however, different patterns of association occurred among bullies, those bullied, and those who both bullied others and were bullied themselves.
Conclusions: The prevalence of bullying among US youth is substantial. Given the concurrent behavioral and emotional difficulties associated with bullying, as well as the potential long-term negative outcomes for these youth, the issue of bullying merits serious attention, both for future research and preventive intervention.
JAMA.2001;285:2094-2100
Copyright 2001 by the American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use. American Medical Association, 515 N. State St, Chicago, IL 60610.
