2006 Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude, and Use Survey

Victims, Perpetrators and Bystanders of Bullying Behaviors

Victims (PPAAUS items 74-79, 101) Within the previous year, an average of 29 percent of the Franklin County Schools students in grades six through eight felt that other students had spread lies or false rumors about them more than once. Twenty percent of the middle-school students said they had been verbally attacked two times or more, and 16 percent felt they had been ostracized (left out of a group or activity to hurt you) more than once. Among middle-school students, four percent said that at least twice in the past year, someone had taken money or things directly from them using force, a weapon, or threats. Eight percent reported that they had been physically attacked at school at least twice, and nine percent said they had feared for their physical safety at school two or more times within the past year. Sixteen percent of the middle-school students had been called names, disrespected, physically threatened, or made to feel afraid online (chat rooms, blogs, IM) at least twice.

In the Franklin County Schools, 27 percent of the high-school students said they had been victims of lies or false rumors more than once in the past year, and 17 percent had been victims of verbal attacks. Twelve percent had been ostracized more than once in the past year. At least twice in the past year, two percent of the high-school students had something forcefully taken from them, and four percent had been physically attacked at school. An average of six percent of the high-school students said they had feared for their physical safety more than once in the previous year. Fourteen percent of the high-school students had been called names, disrespected, physically threatened, or made to feel afraid online (chat rooms, blogs, IM) at least twice.

Perpetrators (PPAAUS items 68-70) An average of 22 percent of the Franklin County Schools middle-school students and 19 percent of the high-school students reported that they had told lies or spread false rumors about someone at least two times in the previous year. Twelve percent of the middle-school students and thirteen percent of the high-school students had, on two or more occasions, left someone out of a group or activity to hurt that person. At least two times in the past year, 11 percent of the Franklin County Schools students in grades six through eight and eleven percent in grades nine through twelve had bullied (“pushed others around”) to intimidate them (“make them afraid”).

Bystanders (PPAAUS items 71-73) When hearing another student being called "mean or hurtful names," 51 percent of Franklin County Schools middle-school students and 45 percent of the high-school students asked the person to stop. Twenty-seven percent and seven percent of the middle-school students and the high-school students, respectively, reported it to an adult. Twenty-eight percent of middle-school students and 26 percent of high-school students were not sure what to do, while 33 percent of middleschool students and 47 percent of high-school students did nothing. An average of 15 percent of Franklin County Schools middleschool students and 22 percent of high-school students laughed; four percent of students in grades six through eight and six percent in grades nine through twelve joined in.

When seeing another student being "physically bullied (hit, shoved around, etc)," 44 percent of Franklin County Schools middleschool students and 41 percent of the high-school students asked the person to stop. Forty-nine percent and 26 percent of the middle-school students and the high-school students respectively reported it to an adult. Nineteen percent of middle-school students and 21 percent of high-school students were not sure what to do, while 19 percent of middle-school students and 28 percent of highschool students did nothing. An average of 19 percent of Franklin County Schools middle-school students and 26 percent of highschool students watched; three percent of students in grades six through twelve joined in.

When "someone is spreading mean rumors or gossip," 36 percent of Franklin County Schools middle-school students and 33 percent of the high-school students asked the person to stop. Twenty-two percent and six percent of the middle-school students and the high-school students, respectively, reported it to an adult. Twenty-one percent of middle-school students and 16 percent of highschool students were not sure what to do, while 30 percent of middle-school students and 43 percent of high-school students did nothing. An average of 31 percent of Franklin County Schools middle-school students and 37 percent of high-school students listened; six percent of students in grades six through twelve joined in.

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