Bullying Behaviors: Victimization Rates of Students with Disabilities Compared to Students without Disabilities

Abstract

This field report examined the rates of bullying among both regular and special education students. The purpose was to explore whether or not students with disabilities are bullied at higher rates compared with their non-disabled peers. The subjects were seventh and eighth grade students from one middle school in a central Wisconsin school district. Three hundred twenty six students did not have identified disabilities, as determined through a special education referral process, whereas fifty one did have one or more identified disabilities. Through a 39 multiple choice, pencil/paper survey used for another school purpose, students anonymously responded to questions that evaluated the rates of both getting bullied and bullying others. In addition, the analyzed data provided information evaluating the most prevalent types of bullying behavior, the most prominent areas bullying occurs, and the victims' attitudes toward school and social relationships. Furthermore, this study compared the rates of students with specified disabilities to other peers in special education to understand if a difference existed between the different categories of disabilities. Using descriptive statistics and chi square tests, it was determined, overall, that students with disabilities were bullied at significantly higher rates than their non-disabled peers.