In 2013, US high school students took the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. This infographic outlines some of the findings related to bullying and fighting.
Download a printable PDF of the infographic
How Common Are Bullying and Fighting among High Schoolers?
In 2013, US high school students took the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. This infographic outlines some of the findings.
20% of US high school students were bullied on school property[1]
| Percent Who Were Bullied On School Property (during the 12 months before the survey) by Gender and Grade | ||
| Grade | Female | Male |
| Total | 23.7 | 15.6 |
| 9th | 29.2 | 20.8 |
| 10th | 28.8 | 15.8 |
| 11th | 20.3 | 13.1 |
| 12th | 15.5 | 11.2 |
15% of students were electronically bullied[2]
| Percent Who Were Electronically Bullied (during the 12 months before the survey) by Gender and Grade | ||
| Grade | Female | Male |
| Total | 21.0 | 8.5 |
| 9th | 22.8 | 9.4 |
| 10th | 21.9 | 7.2 |
| 11th | 20.6 | 8.9 |
| 12th | 18.3 | 8.6 |
25% of students had been in a physical fight
3% of students had been injured in a physical fight[3]
Physical fights on school property have decreased since 1993…
8% of students had been in a physical fight on school property
| Percent Who Were in a Physical Fight on School Property (one or more times during the 12 months before the survey) by Year | |||||||||||
| 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | |
| Question | 16.2 | 15.5 | 14.8 | 14.2 | 12.5 | 12.8 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 12.0 | 8.1 |
…But more kids are missing school because they feel unsafe (at school or on the way to or from school)
7% of students had missed school in the last 30 days
| Percent Who Did Not Go to School Because They Felt Unsafe at School or on Their Way to or from School (on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey) by Year | |||||||||||
| 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | |
| Question | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 7.1 |
Students who are bullied are more likely to have missed school in the last 30 days
16% of bullied students missed school due to safety concerns
Only 4% of students who had not been bullied missed school due to safety concerns
Students who experience multiple types of bullying are even more likely to miss school
| Percent Who Missed School Because of Safety Concerns | |
| Both in-person and electronic bullying | 21.2 |
| In-person bullying only | 12.9 |
| Electronic only | 10.8 |
How can you stop bullying?
For schools:
- Create anti-bullying policies and communicate them to staff, parents, and students
- Integrate bullying prevention material into curriculum at all grade levels
- Encourage students to stand up to bullies, report incidents, and support victims
For parents:
- Talk with your child about what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied
- Become familiar with your school’s anti-bullying policies and rules
- Reach out to your school for help if you know a child who is involved in bullying
To learn more, visit: stopbullying.gov
[1] In the12 months before the survey was administered unless otherwise stated
[2] Being bullied through e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, websites, or texting
[3] Injured in a physical fight and required treatment from a doctor or nurse
Sources:
2013 CDC YRBS Data, https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Default.aspx
Bullying and Absenteeism, CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/fs_bullying_absenteeism.pdf
For more resources, visit our resource guide: ChildrensSafetyNetwork.org/resource/bullying-prevention