Bullying is a persistent issue among Asian American and Pacific Islander youth in California, concludes a recent UC Davis study.

The study pinpoints at-risk groups and high-bullying regions for the first time. Based on data from more than 300,000 AAPI students surveyed between 2015 and 2021, key findings include:

• At-Risk Groups: Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students face the highest bullying rates among AAPI youth and statewide.
• Bullying Rates: Among AAPI youth in California are disproportionately high, with over a third experiencing bullying in 9th grade between 2017 and 2019.
• Lasting Effects: Despite the resilience of AAPI youth, bullying can have significant detrimental effects on their well-being, including anxiety, depression, and internalizing behavior problems, with potential long-term implications into adulthood.
• Pandemic Impact: Anti-AAPI bullying decreased during school closures (2019-2020) but rebounded sharply post-reopening, particularly affecting Cambodian, Hmong, and Laotian students.
• Regional Hotspots: Central Coast, Southern San Joaquin Valley, and Inland Empire have the highest rates of anti-AAPI bullying.

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The study recommends enhancing school climates, strengthening anti-bullying resources, and engaging AAPI families to combat this issue.

For more details, visit UC Davis SPARC.