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September 19, 2008
Bullying methods are no different between boys, girls, study indicates
Canada's Toronto Star (9/16, Rushowy) reported that, according to a study by lead researcher Noel Card of the University of Arizona and colleagues "published in the latest issue of the journal Child Development," boys also engage in the type of bullying referred to as indirect aggression "about as often as girls, and continue to be much more likely than girls to use physical, or 'direct' aggression such as hitting or punching."
For the meta-analysis, researchers analyzed "148 studies of about 74,000 children and teens." They concluded that "there's no meaningful difference in indirect aggression between boys and girls," and "even though boys engage in more physical bullying, 'plenty of girls are physically aggressive.'" Card said, "If anything, I think we might say we're maybe paying too much attention to gender with regard to bullying and need to address that aggressive kids have problems irrespective of gender."
WebMD (9/16, Wilbert) also covered the story.
Related Links:
- "Boy bullies use their claws and their fists, " Kristin Rushowy,
- "Boys, Girls Equal at Social Aggression, " Caroline Wilbert, WebMD Health News, September 16, 2008.
Posted by admin at September 19, 2008 01:30 PM