Effect of relational bullying on attitudes, behavior and injury among adolescent bullies, victims and bully-victims

Abstract

This study examined whether dysfunctional correlates of relational bullying parallel those that have been found for physical bullying. We used data from the population of 2,494 respondents in grades 7–12 from a school district in Colorado to compare latent variables of self-esteem, attitudes toward school, delinquent behavior, physical injury, physical bullying, and physical victimization among 291 relational bullies, 303 victims, 213 bully-victims, and 1,687 neutrals. We used gender as a control variable. Neutrals had the best school attitudes, least problem behavior, least injury, and were less likely to be physical bullies or victims. Bully-victims reported worse outcomes on the latent variables than either neutrals or victims, and they were more likely to be physically victimized than bullies. These outcomes parallel findings among physical bullies in a similar sample. Results show the need for improved intervention, heightened awareness, and particular attention to relational bully-victims.

Acknowledgments

Partial support for this research was provided by school districts in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado, and partial support was provided by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA01070-35). Views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the school districts. The authors gratefully acknowledge the secretarial and administrative assistance of Gisele Pham.