Children and adolescent victim blaming

Findings from a survey of 1,593 United States middle school and high school students indicates more than half the adolescents say they have been verbally bullied; 37% say they have been socially bullied; and 30% say they have been physically bullied. Despite their personal experience with bullying, about half believed victims were at least partially responsible, and 27% believed victims brought it on themselves. The strongest predictors of victim blaming were age, knowledge, and just world beliefs (JWB). Victim blaming was also significantly related to intent to bully and actual bullying, as well as bystander intervention.