Public attitudes about different types of anti-bullying laws: results from a national survey
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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults
Published on: October 19, 2014
Rebecca M Puhl1, Joerg Luedicke1, Kelly M King2
1Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, University of Connecticut, One Constitution Plaza, 6th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103, USA.
Abstract:
State anti-bullying laws have been enacted across the United States to address bullying both by and of youths. Although these statutes can provide critical protection to youth, there is debate about whether such laws should enumerate protected classes of youth. Weight-based bullying is an increasingly prevalent form of harassment and it has been overlooked in policy initiatives. Enumeration in existing laws might help protect overweight victims. As no research has examined this issue, we conducted a national survey of American adults (N=1155) to assess public opinion about enactment of anti-bullying laws that vary according to whether or not they enumerate distinguishing characteristics. Our results demonstrated substantial public agreement (ranging from 2/3 to 3/4 of participants) with enactment of state and federal anti-bullying laws that enumerate distinguishing characteristics, including physical appearance and weight, which are currently absent in most statutes. Our evidence can inform policy and legal approaches to protect youth effectively from bullying.
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Bullying
Surveys
Bystander Effect
Attitudes
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Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

