Comparison of students experiencing bias-based and non-bias-based bullying: Proportions of bullying victims, perceived bullying effects, and the buffering role of social support

Abstract

This study compares victims of bias-based and non-bias-based bullying in terms of their respective proportions across years and their perceived negative effects of bullying on self-esteem, social relationships, schoolwork, and physical health. The ordered logit model was conducted using a national sample of adolescents aged 12 to 18 in the United States to test the differential effects associated with experiencing bias-based bullying and the buffering role of social support, as suggested by the Minority Stress Theory. From 2015 to 2022, the proportion of students who experienced only non-bias-based bullying remained relatively steady before declining in 2022, whereas the proportion of students who reported being bullied and experienced at least some bias-based bullying showed a gradual upward trend over the same period. Bullying victims who report negative effects are more likely to have low and moderate than high levels of bullying effects. For each level of bullying effects (low, moderate, and high), victims of bias-based bullying have a higher probability of having effects than victims of non-bias-based bullying. Female students are more vulnerable than male students to having high levels of perceived bullying effects on self-esteem, social relationships, schoolwork, and physical health. Social support ameliorates the negative effects of bullying victimization and an increase in social support benefits the victims of bias-based bullying more than the victims of non-bias-based bullying.