As noted by Olweus (2001), “a student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students." The CDC also defines bullying and notes that siblings are not included in the definition. There are a wide range of behaviors consistent with bullying, including physical, verbal, and relational manifestations.
- Approximately 30% of youth in the United States report moderate or frequent involvement in bullying in some capacity (Nansel et al., 2001).
- Boys are more likely to be involved in physical bullying (such as hitting) whereas girls are more likely to be involved in relational bullying (such as social exclusion).
- Bullies are more likely to have behavioral, emotional, or learning problems than their peers, and to have parents who use physical discipline.
- Victims of bullying experience higher rates of loneliness, depression, school avoidance, and suicidal ideation than their peers.
- Youth involved in bullying in any capacity tend to have higher rates of victimization in the home and community than their peers (Holt, Finkelhor, & Kaufman Kantor, 2007).
Olweus, D. (2001). Peer harassment: A critical analysis and some important issues. In J. Juvonen & S. Graham (Eds.), Peer harassment in schools: The plight of the vulnerable and the victimized. The Guilford Press.
National Study Finds That Bystanders Support Victims of Harassment and Bullying More Often Than Commonly Thought
This paper reports on a CCRC study that found that in contrast to previous studies, youth victims of in-person and online harassment and bullying report that in most cases, bystanders tried to help them. Bystanders are present for the majority of harassment incidents (80%). In about 70% of these cases, victims report that a bystander tried to make them feel better. Negative bystander reactions, though considerably less frequent, still occurred in nearly a quarter of incidents and were associated with a significantly higher negative impact on the victim.
Sibling Bullying, Aggression, and Abuse
A few quick facts:
- A national survey shows about one-third of children aged 0-17 experienced sibling victimization in the past year (Tucker et al., 2013).
- National surveys show that more children are victimized by a sibling than by a peer.
- Sibling aggression is the most common form of family violence (Finkelhor et al., 2015).
- Sibling sexual abuse is infrequently reported and rarely studied and treated. It may be the most common form of intra-family sexual abuse.
In 2022, the CCRC established the Sibling Aggression and Abuse Research and Advocacy Initiative (SAARA).
SAARA's mission is to promote positive sibling relationships and shed light on the pervasive yet often overlooked issue of sibling aggression and abuse. This initiative grows out of calls for increased awareness of sibling victimization, given its pervasiveness and harmfulness. In many cases, especially when siblings are close in age, siblings are a child’s first peer, and sibling dynamics can set the tone for future relationships with friends, classmates, and dating partners.
At SAARA, we advocate for using the terms sibling aggression and abuse, rather than sibling bullying, because we believe these behaviors are a form of family violence. Sibling aggression and abuse can be physical, psychological, property, or sexual and can occur at any point in the lifespan.
Through research, advocacy, and education, SAARA aims to provide resources and support for affected individuals and families, promote awareness, and influence policy and practice to better address and prevent sibling violence.
