Researchers surveyed nearly 7,000 students, 9,000 parents, and 1,300 teachers to understand how bullying affects young people and how well schools respond. The study found that bullying is widespread: one in four students reported experiencing it at some point. For a typical Singapore secondary school class of 35 students, this means roughly 9 young people have faced bullying.
The research didn't specify the countries studied, so findings may reflect global patterns rather than Singapore-specific data. However, the scale and nature of bullying described—and schools' response challenges—are relevant to understanding what your teen might encounter.
Psychological bullying is the most common form, but it happens mostly at school
Bullying takes many shapes. Psychological bullying (exclusion, intimidation, spreading rumours online) was most common at 13.3%, followed closely by verbal abuse at 13.1%. The critical finding: 57% of bullying incidents occurred on school grounds—in classrooms, canteens, at bus stops, and in school-based social media groups.
This matters because your teen spends significant time at school. The place where they should feel most supported is often where they feel most threatened. Unlike bullying that happens occasionally or in isolated settings, school-based bullying affects young people's daily sense of safety and their ability to learn.
Teens rely on family, not schools, when bullying happens
When bullied, nearly 9 out of 10 students turned to parents or family members for help. Friends were the second source of support at over 60%. But schools—where most bullying occurs—were notably absent as a primary source of support.
This gap is significant. It suggests that even when schools know bullying is happening, teens don't trust or feel comfortable approaching them for help. Many Singapore parents assume schools have robust systems in place, but this research indicates that assumption may not match reality.
Parents and teachers both doubt schools are prepared to handle bullying
Nearly 60% of parents felt their schools were not sufficiently prepared to prevent and handle bullying. Teachers gave similarly mixed reviews: while 40% felt reasonably prepared, nearly a quarter admitted feeling unprepared or only slightly prepared to address bullying.
In Singapore's achievement-focused education system, this lack of preparedness is concerning. Schools excel at academics and discipline, but bullying prevention requires specific training and resources that may not be standard across all institutions. The research doesn't compare Singapore schools specifically to others, but the finding applies to how prepared schools are globally—and parents' concerns suggest the issue exists locally.
Three ways to bridge the gap your teen needs you to fill
- Stay engaged with your teen about their social life at school; since they're more likely to confide in you than school staff, your awareness matters most.
- Ask your school directly about their bullying prevention and response protocols; nearly 60% of parents doubt preparedness, so specific questions can reveal actual readiness.
- Connect your teen with trusted adults (family, mentors) they feel safe approaching, since nearly 9 in 10 bullied students turn to family for help first.