Bullying and violence

Pediatrics for Parents, Sept, 2003

Being a bully or being subjected to the taunts and abuse of a bully are associated with an increase in violent behavior. When 15,686 sixth to tenth graders attending public and private schools were asked questions about fighting and carrying weapons, bullies and their victims scored much higher than other students.

The study looked at four indicators of violent behavior: weapon carrying in general, weapon carrying in school, physical fighting, and being injured in a physical fight. Depending on age, 13% to 24% of the boys admitted to one or more of these indicators. For girls, it was 4% to 11%. Being a bully and being bullied away from school were the two factors that were consistently related to all of the violence-related behaviors. Children who were bullied at school were 1.5 times more likely to carry a weapon than children who were not bullied. School bullies were 2.6 times more likely carry a weapon. Being bullied away from school increased the chances over four-fold, and bullying others away from school increased it by nearly six-fold.

These researchers conclude, "Bullying should not be considered a normative aspect of youth development, but rather a marker for more serious violent behaviors, including weapon carrying, frequent fighting, and fighting-related injury."

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 4/03