Abstract
BackgroundBullying is the most common form of youth aggression. Although 49 of all 50 states in the U.S. have an anti-bullying law in place to prevent bullying, little is known about the effectiveness of these laws. Our objective was to measure the effectiveness of Iowa’s anti-bullying law in preventing bullying and improving teacher response to bullying.MethodsSixth, 8th, and 11th grade children who completed the 2005, 2008 and 2010 Iowa Youth Survey were included in this study (n = 253,000). Students were coded according to exposure to the law: pre-law for 2005 survey data, one year post-law for 2008 data, and three years post-law for 2010 data. The outcome variables were: 1) being bullied (relational, verbal, physical, and cyber) in the last month and 2) extent to which teachers/adults on campus intervened with bullying. Generalized linear mixed models were constructed with random effects.ResultsThe odds of being bullied increased from pre-law to one year post-law periods, and then decreased from one year to three years post-law but not below 2005 pre-law levels. This pattern was consistent across all bullying types except cyberbullying. The odds of teacher intervention decreased 11 % (OR = 0.89, 95 % CL = 0.88, 0.90) from 2005 (pre-law) to 2010 (post-law).ConclusionsBullying increased immediately after Iowa’s anti-bullying law was passed, possibly due to improved reporting. Reductions in bullying occurred as the law matured. Teacher response did not improve after the passage of the law.
Highlights
Bullying is the most common form of youth aggression
From pre-law (2005) through post-law (2008, 2010) periods, a total of 253,054 students in the 6th, 8th and 11th grades completed the Iowa Youth Survey, with about 90,000 students surveyed during each year
We know little about the kinds of prevention activities or statutes mandated by the law and implemented in communities and schools that lead to improved teacher response or reduced bullying perpetration
Summary
49 of all 50 states in the U.S have an anti-bullying law in place to prevent bullying, little is known about the effectiveness of these laws. Estimates vary depending on the populations being studied, type of bullying (i.e., relational, verbal, physical or cyber) being assessed and the time periods for recall, recent surveys indicate that bullying occurs in 9–50 % of youth in the United States (Eaton et al 2012; Pergolizzi et al 2011; Robers et al 2014; Wang et al 2009). Declines in bullying have been attributed to increased efforts in prevention, including the implementation of state anti-bullying laws (Pergolizzi et al 2011; Wang et al 2009; Perlus et al 2014). Little is known about the effectiveness of anti-bullying laws on preventing bullying behaviors in youth. That study found that state laws that have a statement of scope, describe prohibited behaviors and require school districts to develop local policies were
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