The complex nature of bullying

A new study has looked at the pattern of bullying in high schools. The researchers used data from the Context of Adolescent Substance Use survey, a longitudinal survey of adolescents at 19 public schools that began in 2002. The researchers determined students' popularity based on their network of friendships in school. Victimization was measured using interviews with students.

Only the top 5% of students were not subject to bullying. But the slopes to this peak are steep. The study found that, as students move from the middle of the friendship network toward the top, victimization increases by 25%. Victims experience psychological distress and social marginalization, and these adverse effects are magnified by status. For most students, gains in status increase the likelihood of victimization and the severity of its consequences.

The study shows how widespread bullying activity is within high schools, suggesting that universal programs to address this activity are likely to be more successful. To read more about the research, see this press release from the American Sociological Association. 

Johns Hopkins University 

Research in Brief

News Blast