Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3 U.S. students say they have been bullied at school. Many fewer have been cyberbullied.
Most bullying happens in middle school. The most common types are verbal and social bullying.
Some schools are averaging 1-2 fights per weeks
Effects:
Bullying affects all youth, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who see bullying going on. Some effects may last into adulthood. See more on the effects of bullying.
Group Phenomenon:
Bullying is not usually a simple interaction between a student who bullies and a student who is bullied. Instead, it often involves groups of students who support each other in bullying other students.
Changing Roles:
There is not a single profile of a young person involved in bullying. Youth who bully can be either well connected socially or marginalized and may be bullied by others as well. Similarly, those who are bullied sometimes bully others. Youth who both bully others and are bullied are at greatest risk for subsequent behavioral, mental health, and academic problems.
Disconnect Between Adults and Youth:
There is often a disconnect between young people’s experience of bullying and what the adults see. Also, adults often don’t know how to respond when they do recognize bullying.
