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

Module 3: Factors Contributing to Bullying and Violence - Page 13 of 17

Protective Factors For Bullying and Violence

Schools, parents, and communities have a responsibility to eliminate risk factors that make children and youth vulnerable to bullying and violence. Combined with the effort to eliminate or reduce risk factors affecting behaviors, communities also may increase the factors that increase the resilience among students to stay clear of risky behaviors.

Many youth, including those who are subject to multiple risk factors, have the personal strength and resilience to help them avoid problems such as alcohol, drugs, and school violence. American culture is peppered with stories of how individuals have achieved the highest levels of success against all odds. As with risk factors, some characteristics of resilient children are at the individual level; others are at the family or peer level.

"No student should be afraid to go to school because of bullying, and no parent should be worried that their child may be bullied." -from Make Time to Listen, Take Time to Talk brochure

Whether at the individual, family, school, and peer group level, protective factors can help moderate the effect of negative influences. Researchers are increasingly aware of the importance these protective factors play in improving public health.

Protective factors that may help buffer the risk of youth violence include:ref

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