Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevalence as a Form of Violence in Education

Bullying and cyberbullying have received unprecedented attention, evidenced by legislation, research, and national initiatives. This chapter defines bullying and cyberbullying, detailing their distinguishing features. It provides prevalence rates, drawn primarily from meta-analyses and large-scale studies. The chapter reviews the impact on physical, psychological, academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for victims, perpetrators, bully-victims, and bystanders. Risk and protective factors at the individual, family, peer, and school levels are also highlighted. The chapter focuses on major challenges in the field, such as identifying the best sources and methodologies to obtain precise measurement of bullying, and understanding the intersection of racial discrimination, micro-aggression, and bullying. Challenges specific to cyberbullying include its conceptualization, technological advances, and specific legal considerations. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the need to identify effective approaches for reducing bullying through a focus on social-emotional skill development, positive behavioral interventions, and interventions with the social ecology (e.g., peer group).