Most of the research on those who engage in bullying behavior (defined as inflicting physical, verbal or emotional abuse on another individual or individuals) has focused on personality characteristics of bullies or their victims. A new study looked instead at the familial and environmental factors that may contribute to bullying behavior.

Researchers from the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, gathered data from 558 6th, 7th and 8th graders at a midwestern middle school. Based on their responses to a questionnaire designed to assess the frequency of bullying behavior, the researchers divided the students into three groups: those who engaged in little or no bullying behavior (228), those who reported a moderate level of bullying (243) and those who reported excessive amounts of bullying behaviors (87).

Those who reported the highest bullying behavior were also most likely to report "significantly greater levels of forceful parental discipline, viewing of TV violence, misconduct at home and in the community, and fighting," the researchers concluded. They also spent less time with adults, had fewer adult role models and fewer positive peer influences. Thirty-two percent of them lived in a step-family household and 36 percent lived in a single parent household. They also had a higher level of exposure to gang activity and easier access to guns.

5/30/98