Comprehending school bullying and current interventions: Research for Clarian Health of Indiana

In response to Clarian Health of Indiana's need for knowledge on school bullying and prevention, research was conducted to 1.) define bullying, types, and spectrum of involvement 2.) recognize the impact of bullying on those involved including communities and 3.) analyze current bullying prevention programs. A literature review was conducted to gain knowledge on the topic of school bullying. Furthermore, key informant interviews were conducted through public schools, anti-violence organizations, and government agencies throughout the Indiana state to assess qualitative opinions on bullying. Bullying is classified as an aggressive behavior that causes physical and/or mental distress, occurs repeatedly, and is an imbalance of power and strength in a relationship. Types include verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Other forms have manifested through isolation, humiliation, and electronic/cyber bullying. Those involved in bullying are categorized into four main groups including pure bullies, pure victims, bully-victims, and the uninvolved. However, other literature further divides pure bullies into specific types. Bullies have higher crime convictions and serve more prison time as adults than non-bullies. Yet, common psychological issues affect both bullies and victims such as low self-esteem, depression, and increased suicidal ideation. Research shows that multidisciplinary, “whole-school” interventions are proven more effective than curriculum-based approaches in schools. An example of this is the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, which has been championed as the “Gold Standard” intervention. Further research suggests widening the borders of school bullying interventions by targeting special interest victims such as gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender children and special education children.