Bullying research and statistics

Learn more about bullying across the state of Massachusetts. Understanding the prevalence, causes, and impact of bullying is key to creating safe, supportive environments for all youth.

Data sources: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) work collaboratively to collect data about youth experiences with bullying, MDPH through the MA Youth Health Survey (MYHS) and DESE through the MA Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also conduct a national YRBS that includes questions about youth experiences with bullying. 

National data

According to results collected from the 2023 national YRBS, 19% of students in grades 9–12 reported being bullied on school property in the past year.  

Massachusetts data

Middle school 

In the MYHS for middle school students, being bullied includes being repeatedly teased, threatened, hit, kicked, or excluded by another student or group of students and being cyberbullied includes being bullied through email chat rooms, instant messaging, web sites, texting, or online gaming. From 2021 to 2023, there was a 16% increase in reported bullying and/or cyberbullying among MA middle school students- in the most recent year of data collection: 44% of middle school students reports being bullied and/or cyberbullied in the past year.  

However, Massachusetts middle school students report a higher prevalence of being bullied than others. According to 2023 MA YHS data: 

• Nearly 3 in 4 MA non-binary/other gender middle school youth reported being bullied and/or cyberbullied. A reported 86% increased risk compared to youth that identified as male.
• More than 1 in 2 MA middle school youth with a disability reported being bullied and/or cyberbullied. A reported 62% increased risk compared to youth that did not identify as having a disability. 

High school 

In the MYHS for high school students, being bullied includes being repeatedly teased, threatened, hit, kicked, or excluded by another student or group of students. From 2021 to 2023, there was a 31% increase in reported bullying among MA high school students- in the most recent year of data collection: 1 in 4 MA high schoolers reported being bullied in the past year. 

Massachusetts high school students report a higher prevalence of being bullied than others. According to 2023 MYHS data: 

• Nearly 1 in 2 MA non-binary/other gender MA high school youth reported being bullied. A reported 126% increased risk compared to youth that identified as male.
• Nearly 2 in 5 MA lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other sexual orientation youth reported being bullied. A reported 84% increased risk compared to youth that identified as straight.
• More than half of MA youth that identified as transgender or were not sure if they were transgender reported being bullied. A reported 119% increased risk compared to youth that did not identify as transgender.
• Nearly 2 in 5 MA youth with a disability reported being bullied. A reported 129% increased risk compared to youth that did not identify as having a disability.
• Nearly 3 in 10 Massachusetts youth who identified as other/multiracial reported being bullied (30.2%). A reported:
  • 16% increased risk compared to White, non-Hispanic peers
  • 18% increased risk compared to Black, non-Hispanic peers
  • 22% increased risk compared to Hispanic peers
  • 86% increased risk compared to Asian, non-Hispanic peers (16.2%)

Gaps in the data

In recent years, the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MYRBS) and other surveys have started to gather data on lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary, and transgender high school youth but have not included questions about gender non-conforming, intersex, or queer youth. Surveys for middle school youth may include questions about non-binary identities, but lack other identities mentioned above. As data becomes available for these identity groups, this content will be updated. 

It is also important to note that LGBTQIA+ youth are diverse and have other social identities, (e.g., religion, race/ethnicity) that may compound their experiences with bullying and harassment. Some of these other social identities are not captured or it is difficult to provide statistical stratifications by multiple identity groups due to sample size. 

Being bullied can affect youth in many ways  

Understanding the prevalence, causes, and consequences of bullying is essential for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.  

• Academic success: Childhood bullying victimization is associated with decreased school grades and overall academic performance.^{1, 2}
• Current mental health: Being bullied is associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts with some evidence that those who are both victims and bully others, so called bully-victims, are at higher risk for suicidality. ³
• Adult mental health: Another study found that at age 23 and 50, victims of bullying in childhood reported higher levels of psychological distress. Further, frequent bullying in childhood is associated with increased prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders, and suicidality.⁴ 

Addressing bullying not only promotes safer and healthier environments but also supports the overall well-being of communities. Learn more about mental health and bullying. 

More data about bullying and related experiences can be found on the Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PCEs & ACEs) Data Dashboard created by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

1. Samara M, Da Silva Nascimento B, El-Asam A, Hammuda S, Khattab N. How Can Bullying Victimisation Lead to Lower Academic Achievement? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Mediating Role of Cognitive-Motivational Factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(5):2209. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052209
2. Menken MS, Isaiah A, Liang H, Rivera PR, Cloak CC, Reeves G, Lever NA, Chang L. Peer victimization (bullying) on mental health, behavioral problems, cognition, and academic performance in preadolescent children in the ABCD Study. Front Psychol. 2022 Sep 26;13:925727. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.925727. PMID: 36225678; PMCID: PMC9549775.
3. Copeland, W. E., Wolke, D., Angold, A., & Costello, E. J. (2013). Adult psychiatric outcomes of bullying and being bullied by peers in childhood and adolescence. JAMA psychiatry, 70(4), 419–426. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.504
4. Arseneault L. (2017). The long-term impact of bullying victimization on mental health. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 16(1), 27–28. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20399