Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels

About 1 in 4 elementary students in the United States reports being bullied at least once during a given school year. Children who are frequently bullied are more likely to struggle in school, experience poorer physical health and face higher risks of depression, anxiety and substance use as they age. These effects can persist into adulthood, contributing to unemployment and financial instability .

Most bullying research focuses on children's individual traits, such as whether they display signs of aggressiveness or whether their parents physically punish them at home. Children who experience non-physical but harsh or punitive discipline at home may also be more likely to engage in bullying.

Overall, bullying rates vary widely across classrooms .

New research I conducted with colleagues at the University at Albany and other schools finds that classroom environments play an important role in bullying.…