Individual Characteristics and the Multiple Contexts of Adolescent Bullying: An Ecological Perspective

This paper uses an ecological perspective to explore the risk factors associated with bullying behaviors among a representative sample of adolescents aged 11–14 Data derived from the Health Behavior in School Children: WHO Cross-National Survey were used to model the relationship between bullying and media effects, peer and family support systems, self-efficacy, and school environment. Overall, the results of this study suggest that bullying increases among children who watch television frequently, lack teacher support, have themselves been bullied, attend schools with unfavorable environments, have emotional support from their peers, and have teachers and parents who do not place high expectations on their school performance. In addition, we found an inverse relationship between being Asian or African American, feeling left out of school activities and bullying. Our results lend support to the contention that bullying arises out of deficits in social climate, but that social support systems mediate bullying behavior irrespective of the student’s racial/ethnic characteristics, parental income levels or media influences. Because the number of friends and the ability to talk to these friends increases the likelihood of bullying, we suggest that bullying is not simply an individual response to a particular environment but is a peer-group behavior. We conclude that limiting television viewing hours, improving student’s abilities to access family support systems and improving school atmospheres are potentially useful interventions to limit bullying behavior.

Cedrick G. HerauxEmail:

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Gia Barboza   holds a Ph.D. in political science and a J.D. from Michigan State University. She also holds an M.A. in Family Studies. She is currently a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Justice, Law and Society at American University. Lawrence B. Schiamberg   holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Illinois. He was the Associate Dean for Research, Outreach and International Programs in the College of Human Ecology (1999–2003) and the Director of the Institute for Children, Youth and Families (ICYF) at MSU from 1996–1998, where he was also the Senior Editor of the MSU Series on Children, Youth, and Families. He has published extensively on issues related to youth, families and elderly populations. James Oehmke   holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago. He is currently an Associate Professor and Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholar at Michigan State University. Steven J. Korzeniewski   is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Epidemiology at Michigan State University. He also holds an M.A. degree in Health Communications and an M.S. degree in Epidemiology. Lori A. Post   is an Assistant Professor in the College of Communication, Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Michigan State University. Cedrick G. Heraux   holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. He is currently a research associate at the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.