Correlates of Bullying and Victimization among Intermediate Students in the Midwestern USA

Abstract

The primary purpose of the investigation was to examine the relationship between bullying and risk behaviors among 591 fourththrough sixth-grade students in a mid-sized Midwestern (USA) town. More than one-third of respondents reportedly experienced bullying and about one-fifth reported bullying others. Victims tended to worry, dislike themselves and desire to stay home from school (for the sake of physical safety). Bullies were more likely than other students to spend time at home without adult supervision, drink alcohol, smoke or chew tobacco, cheat on tests and bring weapons to school. In addition, bullies' peers pressured them to emit high-risk behaviors such as smoking and drinking. Results were discussed in terms of previous research on bullies and in light of the possible relationship between bullying, antisocial and high-risk behavior.