Is there a link between childhood bullying behaviour and anti-social behaviour in later years?

A few studies have found a link between bullying and aggressive behaviour in childhood and later problem behaviour such as criminality and alcohol abuse (for example Loeber and Dishion, 1983; Magnusson, Stattin and Dunér, 1983). A Swedish study by Dan Olweus in 1993 supported this link. He found that approximately 60% of boys described as bullies in grades 6-9 had been convicted of at least one crime by the age of 24. What is more, 35% - 40%of these boys who had bullied in school, had, by their mid twenties, three or more criminal convictions.
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Article details

D Olweus (1999) 'Sweden' in P K Smith and others (editors) 'The Nature of School Bullying: a cross-national perspective', London: Routledge. Click the book graphic to buy this book online.
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Author details

Professor Dan Olweus was the first person to carry out a thorough research project on bullying. This large, long term study which began in Sweden in 1970, was to provide the inspiration for many who felt that bullying in schools should be challenged rather than accepted. Since the 1970s, his work in this area had continued with force. Indeed, in 1997-99, he led a group in a large project which introduced the widely respected Olweus (anti-bullying) programme to schools in Norway. Professor Olweus is based at the Research Centre for Health Promotion, University of Bergen in Norway and can be contacted by email.
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