Multiple Perpetrator Bullying: An Exploration into Risk Factors and Consequences

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Bullying is a significant public health concern impacting over 20% of US school children.
• Approximately 30% of bullying victims face multiple perpetrators, potentially exacerbating negative outcomes.
• Limited research exists on the specific impact of multiple perpetrator bullying (MPB).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether multiple perpetrator bullying (MPB) leads to more severe adverse outcomes than single-perpetrator bullying.
• To identify risk factors and victim outcomes associated with MPB.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2019 National Crime Victimization Survey's School Crime Supplement.
• Employed regression analysis to assess variations in risk factors and adverse outcomes.
• Compared bullying incidents involving multiple perpetrators versus single perpetrators.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found in victim experiences based on the number of perpetrators.
• Unexpectedly, no increased harms were identified for victims of multiple perpetrator bullying (MPB) compared to single-perpetrator incidents.
• Victim outcomes did not significantly worsen with an increased number of perpetrators.

Conclusions:

• The number of perpetrators in bullying incidents does not appear to amplify negative consequences for victims.
• Findings suggest a need to re-evaluate assumptions about the severity of multiple perpetrator bullying (MPB).
• Implications for public health policy and future research directions are discussed.