Traditional bullying and cyberbullying at schools in Germany: Results of the HBSC study 2022 and trends from 2009/10 to 2022

Saskia M Fischer; Ludwig Bilz; HBSC Study Group Germany

doi:10.25646/11872

Traditional bullying and cyberbullying at schools in Germany: Results of the HBSC study 2022 and trends from 2009/10 to 2022

J Health Monit. 2024 Mar 4;9(1):42-61. doi: 10.25646/11872. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Saskia M Fischer¹, Ludwig Bilz¹; HBSC Study Group Germany

Affiliation

¹ Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus-Senftenberg, Department of Health.

PMID: 38559684
PMCID: PMC10977470
DOI: 10.25646/11872

Abstract

Background: Bullying is a form of violence that is carried out repeatedly, with the intention of causing harm and with an imbalance of power between those involved. Bullying has serious negative effects on the mental health of adolescents and thus represents a significant health risk in childhood and adolescence.

Methods: Based on data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from the survey year 2022 in Germany (N = 6,475), the prevalence of school bullying and cyberbullying among 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds in Germany was analysed. In addition, the prevalence of school bullying and cyberbullying was analysed as a trend from 2009/10 to 2022 (bullying) and from 2017/18 to 2022 (cyberbullying).

Results: Around 14 % of the learners surveyed reported direct experience of bullying at school, and around 7 % reported cyberbullying experiences as bullied and/or bullying victims. Adolescents who identified as gender diverse were particularly likely to report bullying experiences. School bullying decreased over time, but remained stable between 2017/18 and 2022. Cyberbullying, on the other hand, increased in 2022 compared to 2017/18.

Conclusions: Experiencing bullying at school and online is an everyday experience for many children and young people, so there is still a need for the broad implementation of effective anti-bullying measures in schools.

Keywords: ADOLESCENTS; BULLYING; CHILDREN; CYBERBULLYING; DISTRIBUTION; GERMANY; HBSC; PREVALENCE; SCHOOL; SURVEY; TRENDS; VIOLENCE.

Grants and funding

Only funds from the following institutions (in alphabetical order) were used to conduct the national HBSC study 2022: Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (Prof. Dr. Ludwig Bilz), Fulda University of Applied Sciences (Prof. Dr. Katharina Rathmann, Prof. Dr. Kevin Dadaczynski), Heidelberg University of Education (Prof. Dr. Jens Bucksch), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Dr. Irene Moor), Technical University of Munich (Prof. Dr. Matthias Richter), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer), University of Tübingen (Prof. Dr. Gorden Sudeck). Partial funding was provided for the additional state samples in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg (in Saxony-Anhalt by IKK gesund plus, in Brandenburg by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MBJS) and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Integration and for Consumer Protection (MSGIV) as well as AOK Nordost).