The School Bully: Does It Run In The Family?

New research links family relationships to childhood bullying. Elizabeth Sweeney, a University of Cincinnati master’s degree student in sociology, presented her findings Aug. 3 at the 103rd annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. Sweeney says her review of the literature found that children raised by authoritarian parents – parents who are demanding, directive and unresponsive – are the most prone to act out bullying behavior. On the other hand, there were parallels showing that children raised by nurturing, warm, responsive parents were less likely to bully.