Girls and Boys Projects
2008
FACTS on Bullying and Harassment
Recent Studies on Bullying and Sexual Harassment Show:
(Gruber & Fineran, 2007)
· According to a report by the US Dept. of Education School Crime Supplement, in 2001, 8% of middle and high school students were bullied (9% males, 7% females), up 3% from 1999.
· Grade level made a difference: 14% of 6th graders, 9% of 9th graders, and 2% of 12th graders reported that they had been bullied at school.
· Principals reported bullying as a problem in 25-29% of elementary schools, whereas 43% of middle school principals reported bullying as a problem.
· The National Institute of Child Health and Development found in 2001 that one third of children in grades 6 through 10 were directly involved in bullying, with 10% as bullies, 13% as victims, and 6% as both.
· The AAUW found in 2001 that 81% of students experienced some form of sexual harassment during their school years.
· 54% of students reported they had sexually harassed someone during their school years.
· Sexual harassment increases with age: 55% of 8th and 9th graders and 61% of 10th to 11th graders reported they had been physically sexually harassed at school.
Impact of Bullying and Harassment:
· Bullied students are 5 times more likely to become depressed (Hawker and Boulton, 2000).
· 20% of bullied middle school students scored within the clinical range on standard depression and anxiety measures (Espelage and Holt, 2001).
· 90% of bullied students experienced a drop in grades (Hazler, Hoover, and Oliver, 1991).
Cyber Bullying
Study from Journal for Adolescent Health
· 80% of adolescents own at least one form of new media technology (cell phone, personal data assistant, computer with internet access).
· Girls have been found to electronically bully and are electronically bullied more than boys.
· 35% of students reported being targeted by internet harassment, with 8% reporting frequent harassment.
· 64% of these students report not being harassed at school.
References:
Espelage, D., & Holt, M. K. (2001). Bullying and victimization during early adolescence: Peer influences and psychosocial correlates. In R. Geffner & M. Loring (Eds.) Bullying behavior (pp. 123-142). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.
Gruber, J. & Fineran, S. (2007). The impact of bullying and sexual harassment on middle and high school girls. Violence Against Women, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 627- 644
Hawker, D. & Boulton, M. (2000). Twenty years’ research on peer victimization and psychosocial maladjustment: A meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies. Journal of Child Psychology and Pschiatry and Allied Disciplines, 41, 441-455.
Hazler, R. J., Hoover, J.H., & Oliver, R. (1991). Student perceptions of victimization by bullies in school. Journal of Humanistic Education and Development, 29, 143- 150.
December 2007 Supplement: Journal for Adolescent Health
Youth Violence and Electronic Media: Similar Behaviors, Different Venues?
Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.jahonline.org/content/suppl07