Working Paper: NBER ID: w26777
Authors: Daniel I. Rees; Joseph J. Sabia; Gokhan Kumpas
Abstract: The CDC reports that the association between bullying and suicides among teenagers has generated “concern, even panic,” but polices aimed at combatting bullying have received little attention from researchers. Using a difference-in-differences estimation strategy, we find that state-level anti-bullying laws (ABLs) reduce bullying victimization, depression and suicidal ideation, with the largest estimated effects for female teenagers and teenagers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning. In addition, ABLs are associated with a 13-16 percent reduction in the suicide rate of female 14- through 18-year-olds. Event-study analyses and falsification tests provide evidence that these estimates can be interpreted causally.
Keywords: Antibullying laws; Suicidal behaviors; Teenagers; Bullying victimization; Mental health
JEL Codes: I12; I18
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Antibullying laws (ABLs) (K31) | reduction in bullying victimization (I24) |
| reduction in bullying victimization (I24) | alleviation of depression (I31) |
| reduction in bullying victimization (I24) | alleviation of suicidal ideation (I31) |
| Antibullying laws (ABLs) (K31) | reduction in suicide rate among female teenagers (J13) |