Journal of School Health

The Journal of School Health article cites a study in which the researchers found, “Students who were victimized were smaller and students not involved in bullying behavior.” Although size is a major reason students are bullied, there are also some other things that lead to bullying. Research has shown the bullies social and personal background may their actions. In the Journal of School Health, the authors point out that, “Students identified as bullies were 1.65 times more likely to come from homes with an authoritarian style of child rearing compared to a participatory style.” This brings an interesting dimension into the of bullying. Many times it is assumed that the cause is always due to a flaw or certain characteristic of the victim. However, this research proves that bullying may be due to a child’s upbringing. Parents who use physical force or strict measures when punishing their children may be damaging their child in the long run. They are instilling the notion that physical force is acceptable and even does some good. Problems at home are also the authors cite a study that found, “may be that some school bullies are in fact victims at home. It has also been suggested that bullies are from families with child-parent relationship difficulties, family and marital , as well as financial and social problems.” Children receiving a lack of attention at home may feel as if they need to receive attention elsewhere. Thus, they turn to bullying on their inferior classmates in order to receive the attention, praise or recognition they have failed to receive at their homes.