Childhood Bullying: An Investigation of Familial Level Predictors

The existence of bullying in childhood has received national attention. Often, this bullying occurs at school, where many peer-to-peer social relationships are formed. However, familial-level variables may also play a role in children experiencing bullying. This study investigates the role of these familial level variables, specifically how they correlate with childhood bullying. 5th grade data from the United States Early Head Start Longitudinal Research Study was utilized for this manuscript. Familial level variables studied were externalizing behaviors, parental drinking, parental monitoring, and father-child relationship reported by the child. The outcome variable of this study was the amount of bullying 5th graders experienced. Results suggested that familial-level variables such as parental monitoring and the father-child relationship play a significant role in decreasing the likelihood of a child experiencing bullying in elementary school. Implications for practitioners such as social workers and opportunities for future research are discussed.