Not just pushing and shoving: school bullying among African American adolescents.
BACKGROUND
The primary purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of bullying among a sample of African American adolescents and the risk factors associated with odds that a student engages in bullying behavior.


METHODS
Using a self-report school-based survey, 1542 African American adolescents from a single school district (grades 5-12) living in a midsized, Southern metropolitan region, were asked questions regarding bullying behavior and risk behaviors. A response rate of nearly 80% was obtained.


RESULTS
Our results indicate that bullying behavior was higher among this group of African American adolescents than reported for other general student populations (8-12%). In addition, age, family violence, negative peer relationships, and behavioral risks all contributed to increased odds of students reporting bullying behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings underscore the importance of intervention at an early age. Whether the intervention is in a formal or nonformal setting, specialists along with teachers, parents, and siblings need to begin a multipronged approach (data collection, training/education of school personnel, curriculum development, etc) to address the causes and consequences of bullying among adolescents.
Fitzpatrick
Kevin M
KM
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. kfitzpa@uark.edu
Dulin
Akilah J
AJ
Piko
Bettina F
BF
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors