What are risk factors for being bullied?
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Children who are at risk of being bullied have one or more risk factors1,2,3:
- Are seen as different from their peers (e.g., overweight, underweight, wear their hair differently, wear different clothing or wear glasses, or come from a different race/ethnicity)
- Are seen as weak or not able to defend themselves
- Are depressed, anxious, or have low self-esteem
- Have few friends or are less popular
- Do not socialize well with others
- Suffer from an intellectual or developmental disability
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.). Who is at risk? Risk factors. Retrieved August 7, 2012, from http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/factors/index.html [top]
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.). Who is at risk?: Considerations for specific groups. Retrieved August 7, 2012, from http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/index.html [top]
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2006). Teasing and bullying of obese and overweight children: How parents can help. Retrieved August 7, 2012, from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/obesity/pages/Teasing-and-Bullying.aspx [top]
Last Updated Date: 11/30/2012
Last Reviewed Date: 11/30/2012