Multiple Perpetrator Bullying: An Exploration into Risk Factors and Consequences

Bullying constitutes a significant public health issue that results in deleterious physical and emotional consequences for over 20% of school-age children in the United States. Notedly, approximately 30% of bullying victims are targeted by multiple perpetrators. This bears importance as evidence suggests that incidents involving more than one perpetrator can lead to amplified negative consequences for victims. Yet, no investigation has been conducted concerning the number of perpetrators in the context of bullying. To address this gap, the current study examines whether multiple perpetrator bullying (MPB) results in heightened adverse outcomes compared to incidents with only one perpetrator. This investigation uses data from the 2019 National Crime Victimization Survey's School Crime Supplement to assess variation in risk factors and adverse victim outcomes associated with MPB. Regression results reveal significant differences in victim experiences associated with the number of perpetrators involved; unexpectedly, there were no increased harms related to bullying by multiple perpetrators. The implications for research and policy are discussed.