The ABCs of Bullying
Addressing, Blocking, and Curbing School Aggression

Module 3: Factors Contributing to Bullying and Violence - Page 10 of 17

Societal and Community Factors

Societal and community factors affecting bullying and violence include:

Outside of the family, one of the major factors contributing to youth violence is the impact of peers.ref Many adolescents spend up to 40 percent of their non-sleeping time alone or with peers (or adults) who might negatively influence their behavior.ref Another study has put the figure even higher, noting that adolescents spend only 4.8 percent of their time with the parents and 2 percent with adults who are not their parents.ref

A particular school's climate also plays a significant role in influencing the dynamics of peer relationships.

"She told me about the bullying, and I did listen to her. I listened but I didn't hear." -a mother whose immigrant daughter had been repeatedly bullied and eventually brutally beaten within plain sight of the bus driver after leaving the school bus.ref
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