Do Anti-Bullying Laws Reduce Youth Violence?
Date
2015
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Institute for the Study of Labor
Abstract
This study is the first to comprehensively examine the effect of state anti-bullying laws (ABLs)
on youth violence. Using data from a variety of sources – including the Youth Risk Behavior
Surveys, Uniform Crime Reports, and newly collected data on school shootings – we find that
the enforcement of strict, comprehensive school district anti-bullying policies is associated
with a 7 to 13 percent reduction in school violence and an 8 to 12 percent reduction in
bullying. Our results also show that anti-bullying policy mandates are associated with a
reduction in minor teen school shooting deaths and violent crime arrests. A causal
interpretation of our results is supported by falsification tests on older young adults for whom
ABLs do not bind. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Keywords
child abuse, youth, adolescents, prevention, research
Citation
Sabia, Joseph J. ; Bass, Brittany. (2015). Do Anti-Bullying Laws Reduce Youth Violence?. IZA Discussion Paper No. 9201, 1-50.