FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The World’s Foremost Bullying Prevention Program
Releases Findings from National Study
New York, New York, October 20, 2010 In support of National Anti-Bullying Month, Hazelden Publishing and Clemson University presented the Web event: “Bullying in the US: Are We Making the Grade?” The Olweus Bullying Questionnaire has been administered to over half a million students. This is the largest national database on bullying among U.S. students.
During this web event, Dr. Susan P. Limber, National Director for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) and Professor at Clemson University’s Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life shared important information we have learned from this very large national database as follows:
Being Bullied:
- 17% of students indicated that they had been bullied with some frequency (2-3 times/month or more within the school semester).
- There were similar rates for girls (16%) and boys (17%).
Bullying Others:
- 10% of students indicated they had bullied others with some frequency (2-3 times/month or more within the semester).
- Boys (12%) were more likely than girls (7%) to indicate they had bullied others.
How Long Has the Bullying Lasted?
- For students who have been bullied, significant numbers have been bullied for long periods of time:
- 39% of girls and 46% of bullied boys said they had been bullied for one year or longer.
Bystander Behavior
- When asked what they feel when they see a student their age being bullied, the vast majority of students (83%) indicated that they feel sorry for the bullied student (90% girls, 75% boys).
- Students were asked “How do you usually react if you see or learn that a student your age is being bullied?” and had the following responses:
| Girls | Boys | |
| I have never noticed that students my age have been bullied | 24% | 30% |
| I take part in the bullying | 1% | 3% |
| I don’t do anything but think it is OK | 1% | 2% |
| I just watch what goes on | 9% | 14% |
| I don’t do anything, but I think I ought to help the bullied students. | 30% | 22% |
| I try to help the bullied student | 35% | 29% |
We were honored to have the pioneer and founding-father of research on bullying problems, Dr. Dan Olweus, as a part of this conference as well.
OBPP has been proven to significantly reduce student reports of being bullied and bullying others. Results have also shown marked reductions in student reports of general antisocial behavior such as vandalism, fighting, theft and truancy; and clear improvements in the classroom social climate, as reflected in students’ reports of improved order and discipline, more positive social relationships, and more positive attitudes toward schoolwork and school.
Today OBPP is being used in over 6,000 schools nationwide and 700 individuals are trained to implement the program. There are also 14 states including New York and New Jersey that have a statewide partnership in place with OBPP. Training is developed and conducted by the Institute for Family and Neighborhood Life at Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
About Hazelden:
Hazelden Publishing is part of the Hazelden Foundation, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1949, which helps people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. With 60 years of knowledge and experience, Hazelden offers a comprehensive approach to addiction that addresses the full range of patient, family, and professional needs, including treatment and continuing care for youth and adults, research, higher education, public education and advocacy, and publishing. It has facilities in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, and New York.
For more information about the OLWEUS Bullying Prevention Program please contact Claire McKinney at 862-252-1880 or by email claire@clairemckinneypr.com or go to www.olweus.org.
To reach Hazelden call 800-257-7810 or go to www.hazelden.org.
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