Bullying and Aggression

Chapter 7 Investigate Development: Bullying and Aggression

Hi, I’m Mrs. Laura Miller, and I am a 6th grade math teacher at Roland Heights Middle School.

I am concerned about one of my students, Emily. I have recently learned that she is being bullied by another student, Jolisa
What factors make a child vulnerable to bullying victimization? What is the effect of bullying victimization on academic performance and mental health? Why?

Those are the questions you will answer when you Make A Decision.

Researchers have identified several factors in bullying victimization, including what makes a child vulnerable to bullying victimization and the effect on a child’s academic performance and mental health.

Research on the victims of bullying (Who are the victims? What commonalities do victims share?):

• Children who are victims of bullies may share some common characteristics, including peer rejection, relational problems with peers, socially awkward behavior or passive behavior in group settings (Egan & Perry, 1998; Ladd, Kochenderfer, & Coleman, 1997; Nansel, Overpeck, Pilla, Ruan, Simons-Morton, & Scheidt , 2001; Pepler, 2007).
• Girl victims of bullying are more likely to have few friends or to stick out in some way (e.g., to be “nerdy,” to not fit the social norms for girls that age, to hit puberty before the majority of same-aged classmates). Additionally, some girl victims are described as “provocative,” meaning that they elicit reactions from peers due to their behavior, social awkwardness, appearance or ethnicity, and these factors increase likelihood of bullying victimization (Olweus, 1993).
• Children with mental health problems (e.g., anxiety, depression, aggression, emotional problems) are more likely to experience bullying victimization compared to children without mental health problems (Cranham & Carrol, 2003; Craig, Peter & Konarski, 1998; Lumeng, Forrest, Appugliese, Kaciroti, Corwyn, & Bradley, 2010).

These are the factors you will consider when you Investigate the Evidence to determine how bullying will affect Emily’s academic achievement and her mental health.

Research on the link between bullying victimization and academic performance:

• Children who are bullied are less likely to enjoy school, more likely to have low grades in school and more likely to drop out of school (Cornell, Gregory, Huang, & Fan, 2013; Ladd et al., 1997; Nansel et al., 2001).
• Children who demonstrate academic competence are less likely to report victimization by bullies (Jeong, Kwak, Moon, & San Miguel, 2013; Juvonen, Nishina, & Graham, 2000; Mynard & Joseph, 1997).
• Children who are victimized through cyberbullying (defined as intentional and repeated aggression/harassment through electronic means) are more likely to be absent from school, to have difficulty concentrating in the classroom, and to earn low grades (Beran & Li, 2007).

These are the factors you will consider when you Investigate the Evidence to determine how bullying will affect Emily’s academic achievement.

Research on the link between bullying victimization and mental health:

• Children who are victimized by bullying are more likely to report symptoms of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (Brunstein Klomak et al., 2009; van der Wal, de Wit & Hirasing, 2003)
• In girls, frequent victimization at age 8 correlates with higher likelihood of later suicide attempts and suicide completions, even when taking into account things like existing child behavior problems (e.g., conduct disorder symptoms) and depressive symptoms (Brunstein Klomek et al., 2009).
• Cyberbullying is linked to a number of mental health outcomes, including higher likelihood of psychopathology, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms (e.g., headaches, stomachaches, physical pain; Beran & Li, 2005; Brunstein Klomek et al., 2008; Mitchell, Ybarra, & Finkelhor, 2007; Privitera & Campbell, 2009; Sourander et al., 2010; Ybarra, Diener-West, & Leaf, 2007).
• Cyberbullying is also linked to both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (Hinduja & Patchin, 2010).

These are the factors you will consider when you Investigate the Evidence to determine how bullying will affect Emily’s mental health.

Answer these questions
Do you think Emily should enroll in a different middle school?
1. Yes
2. No
Why? Give reasons for why you chose the way you did. Consider the following factors in your reasons:
• Characteristics of children victimized by bullies
• Relationship between bullying victimization and academic performance
• Relationship between bullying victimization and mental health