What is bullying?
CDC defines bullying as any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths, who are not siblings or current dating partners. It involves an observed or perceived power imbalance, and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated.
Bullying may inflict harm or distress on the victim including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. Common types of bullying include:
- Physical such as hitting, kicking, and tripping.
- Verbal including name-calling and teasing.
- Relational or social such as spreading rumors and leaving out of the group.
- Damage to victim’s property.
Bullying can also occur through technology, called electronic bullying or cyberbullying. A young person can be a perpetrator, a victim, or both (also known as a “bully/victim”).
Quick facts and stats
Bullying is an adverse childhood experience that is widespread in the United States. Bullying harms all youth involved including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and bystanders who witness it.
Bullying is common. About one in five high school students reported being bullied on school property in the past year. More than one in six high school students reported being bullied electronically in the past year including through texting and social media.1
Some youth experience bullying more than others. Female students were more likely than male students to experience bullying, both on school property and electronically.
Additionally, Asian students and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students were less likely than Hispanic, White, and Multiracial students to be bullied at school. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students were less likely than students from most other racial and ethnic groups to be electronically bullied.1
Bullying is a frequent discipline problem. A national survey found that 28% of middle schools, 15% of high schools, and 10% of elementary schools reported the occurrence of bullying at school at least once a week. About 37% of middle schools reported the occurrence of cyberbullying at least once a week, followed by 25% of high schools and 6% of elementary schools.2
Warning signs
Not all children who are bullied show warning signs, but StopBullying.gov suggests being aware of these common signs:
- Unexplained injuries.
- Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry.
- Frequent headaches or stomachaches, feeling sick, or faking illness.
- Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares.
- Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school.
Outcomes
Bullying can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, self-harm, and even death. It also increases the risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school.
Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance misuse, academic problems, and experiencing violence later in adolescence and adulthood.3 Youth who bully others and are bullied themselves suffer the most serious consequences and are at greater risk for mental health and behavioral problems.
Prevention
We all have a role to play in preventing bullying. Youth and adults play important roles in preventing violence and creating safe communities where young people can thrive.
A bystander (someone who witnesses bullying, either in person or online) can make a positive impact by becoming an upstander. An upstander is someone who sees what happens and intervenes, interrupts, or speaks up to stop the bullying. Learn more about becoming an upstander and take action against bullying.
Parents, school staff, and other caring adults can:
- Help kids understand bullying and how to stand up to it safely.
- Keep the lines of communication open by checking in with kids often and listening to them.
- Encourage kids to do what they love so they can build confidence and make friends.
- Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.
Additionally, school-based programs that strengthen youths’ interpersonal and emotional skills, including empathy, conflict management, and teamwork, can reduce bullying. Explore example program resources.
All young people deserve to grow up safely and thrive. We can all be upstanders and help stop bullying in our communities.
Resources
- StopBullying.gov: StopBullying.gov provides information on bullying, cyberbullying, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying. Information is also available in Spanish at Espanol.StopBullying.gov.
- Essentials for Parenting Teens: This is a free resource for parents and caregivers of youth aged 11 and 17, offering guidance on building positive parent-teen relationships.
- Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH): CDC’s DASH works to promote environments where youth can gain health knowledge and skills, establish healthy behaviors, and connect to health services.
Examples of some effective school-based skill-building programs:
- Dating Matters®: This is a comprehensive prevention model developed by CDC that teaches 11–14-year-olds how to have healthy, safe relationships both now and in the future.
- Good Behavior Game: This is an approach to the management of classroom behaviors that rewards children for displaying appropriate on-task behaviors during instructional time.
- Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies®: This is a classroom-based social emotional learning program for elementary school students to reduce aggression and behavior problems.
- Life Skills® Training: This is a classroom-based universal prevention program designed to prevent adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use, as well as violence.
- Positive Action: This is a school-based program that promotes life skills and character development with additional program components for teachers, families, and communities.
