Bullying Involvement and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Bullying of children and adolescents with autism spectrum conditions: a ‘state of the field’ review

“…Those most at risk of bullying include (but are not limited to) those with AS and/or with milder deficits in social understanding, early adolescents, those attending mainstream school, and those with concurrent behavioural difficulties (e.g. Sterzing et al 2012), although more research is needed to explore the experiences of those with ID. The evidence suggests an exponential rise in bullying following exposure to three or more of such risk markers (Hebron 2012).…”

“…Finally, another very recent study from the USA reported much lower figures, with 46.3% of children with ASC being classified as victims of bullying (Sterzing et al 2012). Thus, while prevalence estimates show wide variation, they remain notably higher than most estimates among the general population, or indeed learners with other SEND.…”

“…By contrast, Cappadocia, Weiss, and Pepler (2012) found internalising difficulties to be a significant correlate of bullying in a Canadian sample, in addition to age, extent of communication difficulties, parental mental health problems, and having fewer friends. Sterzing et al's (2012) analysis identified ethnicity, co-morbidity with ADHD, lower social skills, higher conversational ability, and attending mainstream classes for 76% or more of the school week (compared to 25% or less) as being significantly associated with bullying among students with ASC in the USA. Zablotsky et al's (2013) study adds a diagnosis of AS (as opposed to other ASC diagnoses) to the list of risk markers.…”

“…Humphrey and Symes 2010a; Hebron and Humphrey 2013) and social skills (e.g. Sofronoff, Dark, and Stone 2011;Sterzing et al 2012) as protective resources, the age-related increase in bullying (e.g. Little 2002;Hebron and Humphrey 2013), and the contexts in which bullying of those with ASC is most likely to occur (e.g.…”

“…Little 2002;Hebron and Humphrey 2013), and the contexts in which bullying of those with ASC is most likely to occur (e.g. Sterzing et al 2012;Hebron and Humphrey 2013). These can be used to inform and adapt approaches to intervention as a means of reducing risk and increasing protective factors.…”