Thomas, Hannah J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7897-7821, Mathews, Ben M., Green, Jennifer G., Haslam, Divna M., Healy, Karyn L., Pacella, Rosana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9742-1957, Higgins, Daryl J., Finkelhor, David, Malacova, Eva, Erskine, Holly E., Lawrence, David M., Meinck, Franziska and Scott, James G. (2025) Peer and sibling bullying victimization in childhood: prevalence in a National Australian Cohort aged 16 years and older. International Journal of Bullying Prevention. ISSN 2523-3653 (Print), 2523-3661 (Online) (doi:10.1007/s42380-025-00307-3)

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Abstract

To examine the population prevalence of bullying victimization by peers and siblings reported in a nationally-representative sample of Australian adults. Australians 16 years and older participated in a computer-assisted telephone interview survey ( N = 8503) and answered questions about childhood bullying victimization perpetrated by peers and siblings. For peer bullying victimization, they were also asked about the duration of their experiences, and experiences of bias-based bullying victimization (i.e., bullying targeting identity characteristics). Overall, 28.7% (27.5–29.9) of Australian adults reported being bullied by peers and 11.5% (10.6–12.4) by siblings during childhood. Prevalence of peer bullying and sibling bullying victimization was significantly higher for gender diverse individuals and women (as compared with men) and for sexuality diverse individuals (as compared with heterosexual individuals). The most common experience was for peer bullying victimization to have endured for more than 3 years (56.9% [54.5–59.4] of those bullied by peers). Around 67.1% (64.7–69.3) of those who reported being bullied by peers experienced at least one type of bias-based bullying. Being bullied about weight or height (12.8% [11.9–13.7]) was more prevalent than other forms of bias-based bullying (race or ethnicity: 6.1% [5.5–6.8]; disability or impairment: 4.9% [4.3–5.5]; sexuality or gender identity: 3.8% [3.4–4.4]). Peer and sibling bullying victimization are common experiences of childhood in Australia. The prevention of bullying victimization remains a priority for creating safer environments for children.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	peer bullying, sibling bullying, chronic bullying, bias-based bullying, victimization
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Vulnerable Children and Families
Last Modified:	02 Jun 2025 11:25
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50627

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