Girls 'Stay Bullied for Longer'

Girls bullied at primary school are two and half times more likely to remain victims than boys, a study suggests.

Researchers found girls who were beaten or threatened physically or verbally at the age of six had less of a chance of escaping bullies by the age of 11.

The team from Warwick and Hertfordshire studied 663 children aged six to nine, following them up at age 10 or 11.

Some 171 children dropped out of the study because they moved schools. They were also more likely to be bullied.

Those that moved schools were one and half times more likely to be victims of malicious gossip and victimisation than others in the study.

Overall some 22% of pupils studied were classed as direct bullying victims compared to 25% at follow-up.

The researchers also examined the way friendship groups were structured in the 17 primary schools in Hertfordshire they studied.

Overall, girls with few friends were more likely to remain bullied. But boys who were bullied early on had no increased risk factors for remaining bullied.

The study said: "Single sex groups of girls participate less frequently in direct physical bullying behaviour which involves predominantly male groups or mixed groups.

"Being a female victim is highly visible among peer groups and may subsequently lead to them getting a reputation for being a direct victim that is difficult to change."

It also argued that female friendship groups tended to be tight knit which meant it was more difficult to escape the role of the victim.

The team speculated that females who remained bully victims may not have close enough friends that are able to "buffer" the negative effects of bullying.

Report author Professor Dieter Wolke said his team's findings suggested that some children become victims and remain victims over a long period of time.

He called for the development of intervention programmes that help victims to escape further victimisation in primary schools.

He also warned teachers and health professionals and parents to be aware of signs of both physical and emotional health problems - as these seemed to be important risk factors for becoming and remaining a victim.

With thanks to BBC News bbc.co.uk/news for this news item.