The ABCs of Bullying
Addressing, Blocking, and Curbing School Aggression
Risk and Protective Factors
Children do not live in a vacuum. Their behavior may result from the interaction of multiple factors, some specific to the individual and others that are situational, familial, or societal.
The presence of "risk factors" puts an individual at higher risk of aggressive behavior, such as bullying. Conversely, the presence of "protective factors" may ward off bullying behaviors. Examples of protective factors include parent supervision and participation at school, peaceful conflict resolution in the home, and parental discouragement of aggression. Decreasing risk while increasing protective factors is the goal of bullying prevention.
Risk factors usually do not exist independently. That is, several risk factors may be present in one child. One study found that a 10-year-old exposed to six or more risk factors is 10 times more likely to be violent by age 18 as a 10-year-old exposed to only one factor.ref
Risk Factor Timing
The timing of the occurrence of risk factors also determines whether a child has an increased risk of violence. Effective prevention programs must not only consider the range of risk factors present (in the individual as well as the environment), but that in the developmental process, these factors are more likely to be significant.
The fact that risk factors are present does not mean that a child is predetermined to commit bullying and other aggressive acts. No single risk factor or combination of factors can predict with certainty that violence will occur, nor does the presence of protective factors ensure that violence will not occur. Recognizing risk and protective factors serve the purpose of predicting the likelihood of bullying and violence and identifying points of prevention at the individual and community levels.
It is interesting to note, however, that when third-grade students were asked to identify classmates who were bullies, 25 percent of the 8- and 9-year-olds they identified as bullies had a criminal record by the age of 30.ref
Did You Know?
A 10-year-old exposed to six or more risk factors is 10 times more likely to be violent by age 18 as a 10-year-old exposed to only one factor.ref
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Last Updated: 5/19/04
SAMHSA is an Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
