MCH Alert - 04/27/01

National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health

April 27, 2001

1. Many Adolescents Are Involved in Bullying, Reports Study

2. Study Examines Snacking Trends Among Children and Adolescents

3. Mental Health Services Lacking in Schools, Claims Study

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Readers: The Institute of Medicine recently published "Immunization Safety Review: Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism." The Immunization Safety Review Committee reported no association between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination and autism. However, it recommends targeted research efforts and more rigorous data-gathering procedures to allow scientists to gain a better understanding of the MMR vaccination and any possible side effects. Additional information is available at <http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10101.html>.

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1. MANY ADOLESCENTS ARE INVOLVED IN BULLYING, REPORTS STUDY

Nearly one-third of the middle school and high school students surveyed reported being a bully, being bullied, or both, finds a study published in the April 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study findings were based on a representative sample of 15,686 students in grades 6 to 10 who were enrolled in public or private schools throughout the United States.

The study was conducted to 1) examine the prevalence of bullying; 2) compare differences in the prevalence of bullying by sex, grade, and race; and 3) assess the relationships among bullying, being bullied, and psychosocial adjustment. The authors defined bullying as a specific type of aggression intended to harm or disturb that occurs repeatedly over time and that involves an imbalance of power.

The authors found that

29.9% of the students reported being a bully, being bullied, or both either frequently (once a week or more) or "sometimes";
Bullying occurred more frequently among middle school students (grades 6 to 8) than among high school students(grades 9 to 10);
Compared with students who reported being uninvolved in bullying, those who reported having been bullied were more likely to report that they had difficulty making friends, had poor relationships with classmates, were lonely, and used alcohol infrequently; and
Compared with students who reported being uninvolved in bullying, those who reported having been a bully were more likely to report that they used alcohol, smoked, had poor school adjustment, and had an easy time making friends.

In light of the study findings, the authors suggest that school-based interventions focus on "changes within the school and classroom climate to increase awareness about bullying, increase teacher and parent involvement and supervision, form clear rules and strong social norms against bullying, and provide support and protection for individuals bullied."

Nansel TR, Overpeck M, Pilla RS, et al. 2001. Bullying behaviors among U.S. youth: Prevalence and association with psychosocial adjustment. Journal of the American Medical Association 285(16):2094-2100.

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2. STUDY EXAMINES SNACKING TRENDS AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Snacking among children and adolescents increased significantly between 1977 and 1996, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Pediatrics. The authors state that "there is an increase in the role of snacking and a strong possibility that snacking has contributed to the epidemic of obesity in U.S. children."

The authors used data collected from 21,236 children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 who participated in the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey and the 1989-91 and 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals. They reported on the trends in snacking behaviors among the children and adolescents over the 20-year period to show how behaviors have changed and how these changes affected the children's and adolescents' nutritional intake.

The study findings include the following:

The prevalence of snacking among children and adolescents increased from 77% to 91% across all ages;
The contribution of snacks to children's and adolescents' daily caloric intake increased by 30% between 1977 and 1996;
The average number of snacks children and adolescents consumed increased from 24% to 32% between 1977 and 1996, depending on age group;
Snacks contributed approximately 25% of children's and adolescents' energy intake in 1996 compared with approximately 20% in 1977; and
Snacks consumed by children and adolescents across all ages were more energy dense than meals.

The authors conclude that longitudinal studies on snacking should be conducted and that "there is a need in the food supply for less energy dense and more healthful snacks that are appealing to children."

Jahns L, Siega-Riz AM, Popkins BM. 2001. The increasing prevalence of snacking among U.S. children from 1977 to 1996. The Journal of Pediatrics 138(4):493-498.

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3. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES LACKING IN SCHOOLS, CLAIMS STUDY

Even though mental health programs in schools are being expanded, few schools offer mental health services, reports a study published in the most recent issue of the Journal of School Health. The author used the Child and Adolescent Program Planning Schema to investigate the gaps in mental health services for school-age children and adolescents. He points out that less than 10% of U.S. schools offer mental health services.

To fill the gaps in services, the author suggests establishing primary and secondary prevention programs and improving tertiary care. He discusses the importance of encouraging education and public health agencies to become involved in the development of mental health programs.

The author concludes that "the time has come for those invested in youth learning, behavior, and development to focus more on prevention and mental health promotion. As partnerships between youth-services systems are formed, systematic analysis of needs and existing resources are conducted, and gaps in prevention and intervention programs are filled, the potential for historic progress is real."

Weist MD. 2001. Toward a public mental health promotion and intervention system for youth. Journal of School Health (71)3:101-104.

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4. INFORMATION REVIEW: BULLYING

Bullying among school-age children and adolescents has been implicated in recent school shootings and is increasingly being recognized as an important problem affecting child and adolescent well-being and social functioning (Nansel 2001). This information review focuses on several resources that provide information on bullying.

A study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association analyzes data from a representative sample of 15,686 students. For more information about the study, see blurb number 1 in this issue of The MCH Alert.

The Center for Mental Health in Schools at the University of California at Los Angeles (<http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu>) has numerous resources on bullying, including a technical assistance fact sheet that lists relevant publications on the Internet and selected materials from the center's clearinghouse. The center also provides links to other agencies, organizations, and databases. The center receives funding from the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB).

The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) has a Web site called AskERIC (<http://www.askeric.org>) that provides a database of reports, journal articles, and other literature from the field of education. The database contains many documents on bullying. In addition, the site includes a fact sheet that lists documents available on the Internet. AskERIC also provides individual responses to questions, a question archive, and lesson plans. ERIC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Children's Safety Network (<http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org>) offers publications on the prevention of child and adolescent violence. The Web site includes guides for parents and resources for schools, community organizations, and maternal and child health professionals. The network receives funding from MCHB.

The National Crime Prevention Council (<http://www.ncpc.org>) offers two fact sheets on bullying. One lists programs and publications, and the other, which focuses on ending school violence, lists ideas for actions that the school community, the law enforcement community, and the population at large can take to help put an end to school violence. The second fact sheet includes an extensive list of resources, organizations, and suggested readings.

Most of the research that has been done on bullying has been conducted in Europe and Australia (Nansel 2001). A Web site (<http://www.bullying.org>) provides numerous links to the following bullying-related resources: 1) Web sites created for and by children, adolescents, and parents; 2) publications and films; 3) government agencies in Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, the United States, and other countries; 4) projects and Web sites; and 5) school anti-bullying policies. The Web site was launched after a school shooting occurred in Taber, Alberta, Canada.

Nansel TR, Overpeck M, Pilla RS, et al. 2001. Bullying behaviors among US youth: Prevalence and association with psychosocial adjustment. Journal of the American Medical Association 285(16):2094-2100.

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The MCH Alert is not copyrighted. Readers are free to duplicate and use all or part of the information contained in this publication. In accordance with accepted publishing standards, the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH) requests acknowledgment, in print, of any information reproduced in another publication.

Please include the following citation when reproducing entire sections of the MCH Alert in electronic or paper form:

MCH Alert. 2001. Arlington, VA: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. <alert>.

The editors welcome your submissions, suggestions, and questions. Please contact us at the address below.

EDITOR: Phuong Huynh

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Olivia Pickett

COPY EDITOR: Ruth Barzel

FOUNDING EDITOR: Laura Kavanagh

National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
2000 15th Street North, Suite 701
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 524-7802
(703) 524-9335 FAX
E-mail: phuynh@ncemch.org
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The MCH Alert is produced by the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health under its cooperative agreement (MCU-119301) with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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