NCJ Number
221954
Journal
Interpersonal Violence Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 129-147
Date Published
February 2003
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Using a school survey, this study examined the influence of low self-control and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on bullying and bullying victimization in a sample of 1,315 middle-school students.
Abstract
The study found that students with ADHD were at increased risk for both bullying and being bullied; however, the link between ADHD and bullying others can be explained by the more general relationship between bullying and low self-control. In contrast, self-control was not a factor in accounting for the relationship between ADHD and being victimized by bullies. A combination of factors--including self-control, physical size, and gender--apparently played a role in both bullying and being bullied. These finding indicate the need for further investigation of both ADHD and self-control in understanding bullying behavior and the selection of targets for bullying. The study sample was drawn from the six public middle schools that serve Roanoke, VA, a metropolitan area with a diverse population. All middle-school students in attendance on the day of the survey (fall of 2000) were eligible for participation. A total of 2,472 students completed the survey (81-percent response rate). The survey contained questions that measured bullying behavior; bullying victimization; self-control; ADHD status; and personal characteristics such as age, weight, and height. 2 tables, 3 figures, 3 notes, and 35 references