Bullying in schools: One in five suffers from bullying!

Bullying in schools: One in five suffers from bullying!

A current analysis of the bullying situation in schools shows alarming results: According to the PISA 2022 study, around 20% of 15- and 16-year-old girls and 23% of boys feel repeatedly bullied. This study regularly examines student well-being and documents the frequency of bullying incidents, highlighting a significant social health issue among adolescents. Compared to the previous study from 2018, a slight decrease in the frequency of bullying was found, but Austria remains on average in the OECD comparison, which indicates a continued need for action. In addition, the WHO study on Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) for the 2021/2022 school year shows that 3-12% of girls and 4-13% of boys have been bullied several times in the last few months.

The differences between the surveys must be taken into account. While the PISA study points to repeated bullying, the HBSC data shows that approximately 2% of girls and 5% of boys describe themselves as bullies. However, a positive trend is the significant decrease in bullying victims and perpetrators between 2010 and 2018, which has remained stable since then. However, there is a worrying rise in cyberbullying, with 8-13% of young people falling victim to digital attacks at least once in the last few months.

Results of the HBSC study

The HBSC study is a WHO multi-country initiative conducted every four years that analyzes the health and well-being of adolescents in a social context. 47 countries and regions participated in the latest round of the survey, and the variety of researchers from various disciplines makes the study a comprehensive resource on youth health. These data not only help identify risks and inequalities among young people, but can also inform national policies and programs to improve the lives of young people.

School bullying incidents continue to pose a significant health risk. A special analysis by the Robert Koch Institute shows that around 14% of children and young people in Germany have experienced school bullying. If it is annexed, particularly worrying numbers emerge among gender-diverse adolescents, who are disproportionately affected by bullying. Despite a decline in school bullying over the years, the prevalence remained stable between 2017 and 2022, while cyberbullying increased during the same period. There is an urgent need for effective anti-bullying measures in schools.

Need for action and prevention

This report makes it clear that although the situation has improved, the challenge remains. Schools and policymakers are encouraged to implement preventive measures to ensure student well-being. The HBSC study and the PISA studies highlight the need for close collaboration between different institutions in order to develop effective strategies against bullying in all its forms and to implement them at school.

For further information about the studies and other relevant results, please visit the website oe24, WHO and RKI.