Anti-bullying Policies and Disparities in Bullying: A State-Level Analysis

Mark L Hatzenbuehler; Javier E Flores; Joseph E Cavanaugh; Angela Onwuachi-Willig; Marizen R Ramirez

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2017.02.004

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Anti-bullying Policies and Disparities in Bullying: A State-Level Analysis

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Anti-bullying Policies and Disparities in Bullying: A State-Level Analysis

Mark L Hatzenbuehler, Javier E Flores, Joseph E Cavanaugh, Angela Onwuachi-Willig and Marizen R Ramirez

American journal of preventive medicine, Vol.53(2), pp.184-191

08/2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.02.004

PMID: 28427952

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Abstract

Recent research suggests that anti-bullying laws may be effective in reducing risk of bullying victimization among youth, but no research has determined whether these laws are also effective in reducing disparities in bullying. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-bullying legislation in reducing disparities in sex- and weight-based bullying and cyberbullying victimization. Data on anti-bullying legislation were obtained from the U.S. Department of Education, which commissioned a systematic review of 16 key components of state laws in 2011. States were also categorized based on whether their legislation enumerated protected groups and, if so, which groups were enumerated. These policy variables from 28 states were linked to individual-level data on bullying and cyberbullying victimization from students in 9th through 12th grade participating in the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System study (N=79,577). Analyses were conducted in 2016. There was an absence of any kind of moderating effect of anti-bullying legislation on weight-based disparities in bullying and cyberbullying victimization. Only state laws with high compliance to Department of Education enumeration guidelines were associated with lower sex-based disparities in bullying victimization. Anti-bullying policies were not associated with lower weight-based disparities in bullying and cyberbullying victimization among youth, and only one form of policies (high compliance to Department of Education enumeration guidelines) was associated with lower sex-based disparities in bullying victimization. Results therefore suggest that anti-bullying legislation requires further refinement to protect youth who are vulnerable to bullying victimization.

Guidelines as Topic

Social Control Policies - statistics & numerical data

Body Weight

Students - statistics & numerical data

Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data

Health Status Disparities

United States

Crime Victims - psychology

Humans

Male

Bullying - statistics & numerical data

Schools - statistics & numerical data

Students - psychology

Adolescent

Sex Factors

Bullying - prevention & control

Female

Internet

Health Surveys - statistics & numerical data

Social Control Policies - standards

Details

Title: Subtitle: Anti-bullying Policies and Disparities in Bullying: A State-Level Analysis
Creators: Mark L Hatzenbuehler - Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York. Electronic address: mlh2101@cumc.columbia.edu
Javier E Flores - Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Joseph E Cavanaugh - Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Angela Onwuachi-Willig - College of Law, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Marizen R Ramirez - Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of preventive medicine, Vol.53(2), pp.184-191
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.02.004
PMID: 28427952
NLM abbreviation: Am J Prev Med
ISSN: 0749-3797
eISSN: 1873-2607
Publisher: Netherlands
Language: English
Date published: 08/2017
Academic Unit: Statistics and Actuarial Science; Occupational and Environmental Health; Biostatistics; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9983985893402771

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