One in Five Italian Children Face Bullying, Istat Reports

Rome: One in five children in Italy are victims of bullying, Istat revealed Thursday. The persistent nature of the phenomenon predominantly affects younger children, particularly those aged between 11 and 13, and foreign nationals more than their Italian peers, according to a 2023 survey that delves into bullying and cyberbullying among youth.

According to Ansa News Agency, the data shows that 68.5% of children aged 11 to 19 have experienced at least one incident of offensive, disrespectful, or violent behavior, whether online or offline, over the course of a year. Of these, 21% reported facing such behaviors several times a month, with 8% experiencing them weekly.

The survey highlights regional disparities, noting that the South of Italy has the lowest concentration of bullying incidents, whereas the North-West records the highest percentage-71%-of children aged 11 to 19 reporting offensive or violent behavior annually. Age also plays a significant role; the youngest age group, 11 to 13-year-olds, are the most vulnerable, with 23.7% affected compared to 19.8% of those aged 14-19.

Foreign children are particularly susceptible to bullying, with 26.8% reporting monthly incidents, compared to 20.4% among Italians. Romanian and Ukrainian children are notably affected, with 29.2% and 27.8% respectively reporting frequent bullying.

The survey also reveals gender differences in bullying experiences. Continuous insults are reported by 16% of male victims compared to 12.3% of females, while exclusion impacts over 12% of girls versus 8.5% of boys. Direct actions such as insults and offenses are the most common, with over half of the young respondents having felt offended or insulted at least once in the past year.

The survey further examines online bullying, a significant concern as over 90% of young people aged 11 to 19 spend at least two hours daily on the internet. Within this context, 34% of this age group reported experiencing online harassment at least once a year, with 7.8% facing it several times a month. Boys are more frequently targeted online, with 8.9% experiencing cyberbullying compared to 6.6% of girls. Foreign children again find themselves more vulnerable online, with 39.8% being bullied versus 33.3% of Italian children.