Bullying in Central Illinois A Mix of Rural and Urban

Abstract

Bullying represents a significant public health crisis. An estimated one in five Illinois youth report experiencing a form of bullying in the past year (Garthe et al., 2021a). Experiencing bullying is associated with adverse individual and societal outcomes, illustrating the importance of bullying prevention. Previous research has shown rates of bullying in Illinois were highest in rural counties and counties that are primarily rural with a highly populated city (e.g., Champaign County, which is predominantly rural with Champaign-Urbana as an urban/suburban area). This needs assessment underscores the necessity of investigating bullying rates in specific regions to inform targeted violence prevention efforts. The current study examines rates of bullying across county types in Central Illinois (i.e., counties north of Clay County and south of Stark County), as Central Illinois has a mixture of rural counties and counties with a rural-urban mix. In particular, the current study explored county-level factors in relation to rates of bullying, including socioeconomic and household factors. In a longitudinal study looking at bullying and related factors worldwide, those with a lower socioeconomic status (SES) experienced higher levels of victimization (Hosozawa, et al., 2021). Secondary data analysis was conducted using bullying data from the Illinois Youth Survey and county-level data from the U.S. Census. Results have important implications for school districts and rural service providers in Central Illinois, especially when considering violence prevention programs and policies.