Maternal and Child Health Bureau MCHCOM.COM April, 2004 “Stop Bullying Now!” Health Resources And Services Administration Maternal And Child Health Bureau Chris DeGraw Stephanie Bryn Susan Limber This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab Type in action items as they come up Click OK to dismiss this box This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau Stephanie Bryn Health Resources And Services Administration Maternal And Child Health Bureau This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab Type in action items as they come up Click OK to dismiss this box This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered.

Bullying Among Children & Youth Susan P. Limber, PhD Clemson University

Bullying Defined Aggressive behavior that intends to cause harm or distress Aggressive behavior that intends to cause harm or distress Is repeated over time Is repeated over time Occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power or strength Occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power or strength

Aggression Bullying Violence Bullying with Physical Violence

Prevalence of Bullying Nansel et al. (2001): Nansel et al. (2001): –National sample of 15,600 students in grades 6-10 –19% bullied others ”sometimes” or more often –17% were bullied “sometimes” or more often –6.3% reported both bullying and being bullied

Percentage of Victimized Students Norwegian Sample (N=10,800) Grades (Boys + Girls) = 15.2%Grades 8-10 (Boys + Girls) = 8.0%

Victimization Rates Nansel et al. (2001)

Bullying Rates Nansel et al. (2001)

Gender Differences in Bullying Most studies find that boys bully more than do girls Most studies find that boys bully more than do girls Boys report being bullied by boys; girls are bullied by boys and girls Boys report being bullied by boys; girls are bullied by boys and girls Boys are more likely than girls to be physically bullied by their peers Boys are more likely than girls to be physically bullied by their peers Girls are more likely to be bullied through rumor-spreading, sexual comments, social exclusion Girls are more likely to be bullied through rumor-spreading, sexual comments, social exclusion

Conditions Surrounding Bullying Children usually are bullied by one child or a small group Children usually are bullied by one child or a small group Common locations: playground, classroom, lunchroom, halls, bathrooms Common locations: playground, classroom, lunchroom, halls, bathrooms Bullying is more common at school than on the way to/from school Bullying is more common at school than on the way to/from school

Children Who Are Bullied Have: Lower self esteem Lower self esteem Higher rates of depression and anxiety Higher rates of depression and anxiety Higher absenteeism rates Higher absenteeism rates Poorer health Poorer health More suicidal ideation More suicidal ideation

Health Concerns of Bullied Children Children who are bullied are more likely to report these symptoms: Children who are bullied are more likely to report these symptoms: –Headache –Sleeping problems –Abdominal pain –Tense muscles –Feeling tired –Bad appetite –Feeling listless –Bed-wetting

Children Who Bully are More Likely to: Get into frequent fights Get into frequent fights Be injured in a fight Be injured in a fight Steal, vandalize property Steal, vandalize property Drink alcohol Drink alcohol Smoke Smoke Be truant, drop out of school Be truant, drop out of school Report poorer academic achievement Report poorer academic achievement Perceive a negative climate at school Perceive a negative climate at school Carry a weapon Carry a weapon

Longitudinal Study of Children who Bullied (Olweus, 1993) 60% of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one conviction by age % of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one conviction by age % had three or more convictions. 40% had three or more convictions. Bullies were 4 times as likely as peers to have multiple convictions. Bullies were 4 times as likely as peers to have multiple convictions.

Reporting of Bullying to School Staff Many do not report being bullied: Many do not report being bullied: –Most studies: 20-50% report to teachers or other staff Older children and boys are less likely to report victimization. Older children and boys are less likely to report victimization. Why don’t children report? Why don’t children report? –66% of victims felt that personnel responded poorly (Hoover et al., 1992)

Adults’ Responsiveness to Bullying Adults overestimate their effectiveness in identifying bullying and intervening. Adults overestimate their effectiveness in identifying bullying and intervening. Many children question the commitment of teachers and administrators to stopping bullying Many children question the commitment of teachers and administrators to stopping bullying –35% believed teachers were interested in stopping bullying –25% believed administrators were interested in stopping bullying (Harris et al., 2002).

Misdirections in Bullying Prevention and Intervention Zero tolerance policies for bullying Zero tolerance policies for bullying Group treatment for children who bully Group treatment for children who bully Mediation/conflict resolution to resolve bullying issues Mediation/conflict resolution to resolve bullying issues Simple, short-term solutions Simple, short-term solutions “ Program du jour” approaches “ Program du jour” approaches

What Works? What is required to reduce bullying in schools is nothing less than a change in the school climate and in norms for behavior. What is required to reduce bullying in schools is nothing less than a change in the school climate and in norms for behavior. This requires a comprehensive, school-wide effort involving the entire school community This requires a comprehensive, school-wide effort involving the entire school community

Maternal and Child Health Bureau now.hrsa.gov Health Resources And Services Administration Maternal And Child Health Bureau This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab Type in action items as they come up Click OK to dismiss this box This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau Questions and Answers Session This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab Type in action items as they come up Click OK to dismiss this box This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered.