Bullies, Victims, and Their Feelings About School

Students who say they don't feel safe or don't belong at school are more likely to be involved in bullying, say researchers from the University of Washington and Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center in Seattle.

In 2001 and 2002, 3,530 public school students in third, fourth, and fifth grade answered questions about their involvement in bullying and their feelings about school. The students responded to statements or questions such as:

• Students at this school make fun of, bother, or hurt me.
• How often have you yourself made fun of, bothered, or hurt another student at school?
• I feel safe at school.
• I feel I belong in my school.
• It is OK to cheat at school.

The students also noted whether they felt sad on most days at school. The study researchers also examined each student's standardized test scores, attendance records, and school suspension or expulsion records.

Almost one quarter (22%) of children reported involvement in bullying as a victim, bully, or both. About 6% of children were always bullied by others (victims); 14% bullied others but weren't bullied themselves (bullies); and 2% said they bullied and were bullied themselves (bully-victims). Boys were more likely to be bullies and bully-victims. The results also showed that children involved in bullying were significantly more likely to:

• be suspended or expelled
• feel unsafe, sad, and like they didn't belong at school
• say it's OK to cheat if they could get away with it
• have lower achievement scores on standardized tests

What This Means to You

The results of this study support previous research indicating that bullying is common among elementary school students. It also shows that students involved in bullying often have problems with schoolwork and feel sad, unsafe, and like they don't belong.

What can you do? If your child regularly complains of being bullied by other students or suggests that he or she has been bullying others, get involved by talking to your child's teacher, school counselor, or doctor.

Source: Gwen M. Glew, MD; Ming-Yu Fan, PhD; Wayne Katon, MD; Frederick P. Rivara, MD; Mary A. Kernic, PhD, MPH; Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, November 2005.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: November 2005

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

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