Students who attend schools with pervasive bullying problems may not perform as well academically, according to a new study presented at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association and reported by Medical News Today.
Researchers surveyed grade nine students and teachers from 284 schools across Virginia. They found that the schools with higher reported rates of bullying tended to score three to six percent lower on standardized tests in Algebra I, Earth Science and World History.
"This study supports the case for school-wide bullying prevention programs as a step to improve school climate and facilitate academic achievement," explained study co-author Dewey Cornell, from the University of Virginia.
While the study did not uncover the reasons why bullied students tend to perform more poorly, the researchers do have a few theories: anxiety over bullying may cause students to be less engaged in their studies, and teachers who are busy dealing with matters of discipline may be less effective in the classroom.
"Our society does not permit harassment and abuse of adults in the workplace, and the same protections should be afforded to children in school," concluded Cornell.
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