Bullying Dynamics: Does the Number of Perpetrators Matter?

• In Event: Victimization: Child Maltreatment, Bullying, and School-based Violence

Abstract

Bullying perpetration often occurs in groups, yet most of the literature focuses on individual perpetrators. Using three waves from the National Crime Victimization School Crime Supplement (NCVS-SCS), we explore the dynamics of bullying victimization by individual perpetrators, groups of perpetrators, and a combination of individuals and groups. We explore how perpetrator dynamics vary by the type, location, reason, impact, and power dynamics of bullying victimization. Findings suggest those who experience bullying victimization by both individual perpetrators and groups of perpetrators are at an elevated risk of experiencing all types of bullying, being bullied more days, and being bullied in multiple locations. In addition, bullying victimization is more likely to have a negative impact on their health, relationships, and school work, and they report being “less powerful” than their perpetrators on multiple dimensions of power. We found minimal differences between those who reported being only bullied by individuals and those who reported only being bullied by groups. The implications of this study indicate that those who report being bullied by both individuals and groups of perpetrators are at higher risk of chronic and negative outcomes associated with bullying.

Authors

• Reeve Kennedy, East Carolina University

• Sara Bryson, University of Tampa