Findings from a survey of 1,593 United States middle school and high school students indicates more than half the adolescents say they have been verbally bullied; 37% say they have been socially bullied; and 30% say they have been physically bullied. Despite their personal experience with bullying, about half believed victims were at least partially responsible, and 27% believed victims brought it on themselves. The strongest predictors of victim blaming were age, knowledge, and just world beliefs (JWB). Victim blaming was also significantly related to intent to bully and actual bullying, as well as bystander intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Public Significance Statement—The study contributes to the literature on school bullying by examining the extent of different forms of bullying among children and adolescents establishing some of the reasons for victim blaming. Some degree of Just World Beliefs are needed for mental health, but students need to be educated on violence and victims to break the cycle of school violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1078-1919 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pac0000282 ID - ref1 ER -