Worldwide, millions of youth experience bullying. This article examines key statistics that highlights the prevalence of bullying and its impact on those who are victimized.
What is Bullying?
Bullying involves repetitive harmful behaviors intended to hurt another person. There are several types of bullying:
Physical Bullying: Hitting, kicking, or pushing.
Verbal Bullying: Teasing, name-calling, or threats.
Social Bullying: Spreading rumors, excluding someone from groups.
Cyberbullying: Using digital platforms to harass or embarrass someone.
Prevalence Among Students
- 20% of U.S. students aged 12-18 report being bullied during the school year.
- 5% of students report physical bullying.
- 13% of students report verbal bullying.
- 13% experience social bullying.
- Nearly 50% of teens have experienced cyberbullying.
- 57% of bullying cases stop when a peer intervenes.
- 46% of bullied students tell an adult at school about it.
- Schools with comprehensive anti-bullying programs report up to a 20% reduction in bullying incidents.
Impact on Mental Health
- Victims of bullying are more likely to have anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
- There is a strong link between bullying and suicidal thoughts; victims are up to 9 times more likely to consider suicide.
Effects on Academic Performance
- Bullying victims often have a drop in grades and academic performance.
- 15% of bullied students skip school to avoid harassment.
- Students who are bullied are more likely to drop out of school.
Differences by Gender and Sexual Orientation
- Girls are more likely to experience verbal and social bullying (18% vs. 9% and 7% vs. 4%, respectively), while boys are more prone to physical bullying (6% vs. 4%).
- 43% of transgender youth have been bullied at school; 29% have been hurt or threatened with a weapon.
- 29 to 31% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth have been bullied at school; 11 to 16% have been hurt or threatened with a weapon.
- Cyberbullying affects boys, girls and non-binary youth equally.
Long-Term Consequences
- Adults who were bullied as children have a higher risk of mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.
- Victims of bullying can suffer from long-term self-esteem issues and have difficulties in forming relationships.
- Childhood bullying may increase the rate of premature death (between 16 and 55 years old).
Global Perspective
- One in three students globally experience bullying in some form.
- In wealthy countries, youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and immigrant youth are at a higher risk of bullying.
- Overall, boys are slightly more likely to be bullied (32 vs 28%). However, in countries where bullying is most frequent, girls are more likely to face bullying (65 vs 62%).
Key Takeaways
Long-term consequences: The impact of bullying echoes through a person’s life, far beyond childhood. It can lead to mental, physical, and financial challenges.
Comprehensive Programs as a Solution: Schools with robust anti-bullying strategies may see a moderate reduction in bullying rates. However, more research is still needed to increase effectiveness.
Vulnerable Groups Need Support: LGBTQ+ youth face significantly higher rates of bullying and violence, indicating a need for targeted interventions and support systems.
Sources
https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/stats.asp
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/
https://dosomething.org/article/11-facts-about-bullying
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3955573/
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/fs_bullying_absenteeism.pdf
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-28392-001
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953624001345
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/new-data-reveal-one-out-three-teens-bullied-worldwide