title: The role of community, family, peer, and school factors in group bullying: implications for school-based intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although an ecological perspective suggests the importance of multiple levels of intervention, most bullying research has emphasized individual- and school-focused strategies. This study investigated community and family factors that influence school efforts to reduce odds of group bullying behavior and victimization.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used multilevel logistic regression to analyze data from the 2009 Youth in Iceland population school survey (N = 7084, response rate: 83.5%, 50.8% girls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parental support and time spent with parents were protective against group bullying behavior while worsening relationships with teachers and disliking school increased the likelihood of such behavior. Knowing kids in the area increased the likelihood of group bullying while intergenerational closure was a protective factor. Normlessness was consistently positively related to group bullying. We found no indication of higher-level relationships across the bullying models. Parental support was protective against victimization. Disliking school, intergenerational closure, and anomie/normlessness were strongly and negatively related to victimization. We found some indication of multilevel relationships for victimization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support efforts to increase family and community connection, closure, and support as a part of school-based intervention. These factors become more important as young people participate in or experience greater odds of group bullying behavior and victimization.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, West Virginia University, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26505. mjmann@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505. akristjansson@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Alfgeir L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kristjansson
authors.affiliation: Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis, Reykjavik University, 1 Menntavegur, 105, Reykjavik, Iceland. ingadora@ru.is.
authors.forename: Inga Dora
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Sigfusdottir
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, Human Development and Family Studies, Morgantown, WV 26505. megansmith.mls@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D058445:Bullying / Q000502:physiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: adolescent health; bullying; community intervention; school health; social support