Peer Victimization In Middle School

One of the many health problems affecting children or adolescents today is bullying. Children who experience bullying reported that they got bullied by their looks, body shape, and/or race (Bullying 2015). One out of every four students (22%) report being bullied during the school year in the United States (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2015). About 46% of children or adolescents in Kentucky are victims of bullying in schools. Bullying is most commonly described by three characteristics: it is intentionally harmful, it is repetitive in nature, and there is a power difference between the bully and the victim (Oleweus, 1993). Almost 64% of children who are bullied do not report it; only 36% report the bullying (Petrosina, Guckenburg, DeVoe, And Hanson, 2010). It is impossible to determine the exact number of bullying incidents that occur in our primary and secondary schools each year. While there is some evidence to suggest that students now find schools safer that they were ten years ago, but bullying still occurs every day somewhere in someone’s life.

Studies show the dangers in bullying and how it is on the rise especially with use of the

Bullying has become more of an issue that is threatening our younger generation today. Bullying is becoming more of a vicious act in public schools throughout the United States (Coloroso, 2003; Felix & McMahon, 2006). There are many adverse effects that are caused by this disgraceful act. The average school-age child is silently or overtly tormented on a daily basis. Many of these students who experience bullying feel that they have no one to talk to, or that they have no where to go. The motives that the bullies take can cause harmful and even devastating results. In today’s society, bullying provokes emotional, social, and cognitive distress in the

Bullying is said to be a major influence in “incidents of school violence” ( “School Bullying” 2). Bullying early in someone’s life is related to later issues such as suic ide intentions, anxiety, self-esteem, and other conditions that can last into their adulthood. But the victims are not the only ones affected. Bullies have increased health problems and have a hard tim e with relationships. They are more likely to commit crimes at a younger age.

The first study in this section was conducted by Cornell, Gregory, Huang, and Fan (2013). The participants of the study include ninth-grade students and teachers. Students provided reports of bullying victimization, and both students and teachers reported their perceptions of the prevalence of teasing and bullying at school, using the Prevalence of Teasing and Bullying (PTB) scale (Bandyopadhyay, Cornell, & Konold, 2009). Measures of peer victimization were obtained from 25 ninth-grade students and 10 ninth-grade teachers from Virginia public high schools. The study revealed that bullying, as perceived by both students and teachers, was predictive of dropout rates four years later (Cornell et al., 2013). The results of the study provided evidence that peer victimization in high school is an important factor in high school academic performance. The results of the study also contributed to knowledge about predicting dropout rates of high school students who have been exposed to bullying (Cornell et al.,

According to an article about bullying and victimization, it was noted that male victimization rates for bullies was among the highest and because bullying became more detrimental in the later stages of middle to late adolescents, due to self-blame, loneliness, anxiety and low self-esteem (Graham and Juvonen 1998). Also, peer victimization may lead to depression, low self-evaluation, anxiety and other different mental health problems (Crick &

Bullying among school-aged children is regarded as a widespread problem in the United States and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), over one third of students in elementary and middle schools are impacted by bullying (Klein, 2012). Bullying is defined as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time” (Klein,2012). Studies show that the consequences of bullying not only include students who are bullied, but the effects extend to those who bully and

Bullying had always been a part of my life. It first started when I was in elementary school and it usually started with little things, such as the fact that I wore glasses or how many people thought I was weird for reading books and being a loner most of the time. Then, it followed me to middle school. People would look at me, point, and proceed to say rude things about me. People would make fun of my clothing and it affected the way I saw myself.

Bullying is defined as the prolonged malicious act of harming peers by abusing their own--or an existing imbalance of--power, and has become one of the most common sources of trauma among adolescents. One report shows that one of three children were victims of bullying during some point in their life, and that 10-14% of all adolescents were victims of chronic bullying for at least six months prior to conducting the survey. Children who were victims of bullying are also found to be at a higher risk of diagnoses for anxiety disorders and depression during young and middle adulthood. These victims are reported to be more likely to have lower levels of general/physical health and lower educational acquirements than young and middle aged adults who were not bullied (Wolke & Lereya, 2015). Because bullying is such a prominent problem, citizens, policymakers, and social scientists alike, should feel or have some social and moral obligation to address, and hopefully avert bullying.

Bullying is a form of social interaction that is shaped by social norms of youths and adults as well schools and broader society. Bullying used to be thought of a playground hazard, perhaps even an essential rite of the passage. Most of the time have changed and there is increasing recognition that bullying can affect anyone, of any age, from childhood to adulthood, and that it makes lives miserable and unpleasant. Online and offline bullying are often related. A bullying relationship in school often extends to technology devices. Offline bullying is more prevalent among middle school students, where cyber bullying is more common among high school students. Youth involved in bullying whether they are the perpetrator or the victim tend to have

Students in 8th and 10th grades represent the developmental stage when adolescents explore autonomy and form identity influenced by internal and external influences (Muuss, Velder, & Porton, 1996; Dudovitz, Li, & Chung, 2013). At this stage, adolescents start forming their perceptions about the family, society, self, and peers. Their life course, such as interpersonal relationships with family members and peers and support (moderator) are the protective factors, and their victimizations (predictor) at school or work are the risk factors (Brook, et al., 1998), as shown in Figure 2. Family and peer relationships and victimization are associated and victimization (predictor) can influence family and peer relationships (Brook, et al., 1998). Interpersonal

According National Center for Education Statistics, in 2013, 21.5% of students have experienced bullying at school from the ages of 12-18. It’s important to understanding the cause and effects of bullying in early childhood and adolescence. Learning long term mental health effects for victims of bullying can help with prevention. Some opposing viewpoints may say that bullying will pass while kids will be kids. This research essay will look furthermore into the health consequences of peer to peer bullying. How can one define and prevent bullying? To fully understand the extremity of bullying and affects you would have to experience yourself. Parents and educators should watch for any signs of bullying early on before it gets too far.

“New bullying statistics for 2010 revealed about one in seven students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade is either a bully or has been a victim of bullying” (“Bullying Statistics 2010”). How does a person detect whether someone is being bullied? “A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself” (Olweus). Bullying takes place more in middle school because they are trying to fulfill a strong need for power, fit-in with their peers, and satisfy their pain. “Fear of being excluded by peers leads to by-standing, if the teen is aware of a bullying situation and decides to stay away or not get

Bradshaw, C.P., Sawyer, A.L., & O’Brennan, L.M. “Bullying and peer victimization at school: Perceptual differences between students and school staff.” School Psychology Review, 36(3), 361-382. www.stopbullying.gov/media/facts/index.html. Accessed 2 March 2017.

Howard Spivak of the New England Medical Center, in Boston, and Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith of the Harvard School of Public Health, commenting on the research. In light of recent school shootings, parents and educators have become concerned about whether bullying behavior or being the victim of one may contribute to more serious acts of aggression.