Children whose fathers work overtime may exhibit bullying behaviors

By Staff Writer

Recent research suggests that bullies may be a product of their father's work schedule. According to a study from Vanderbilt University, children who believe that their fathers work too much may exhibit bullying behaviors.

The team surveyed 687 children who were between 10 and 14 years old and lived in two-parent homes. Their bullying behavior was measured using the Behavior Problem Index, which is a 28-item scale designed to assess childhood syndromes. Researchers also viewed parents' work hours.

They found that about 40 percent of the mothers and 47 percent of their spouses or partners worked full-time - an average of 35 to 40 hours per week. A total of 15 percent of mothers as well as 50 percent of their spouses or partners worked overtime, or more than 40 hours per week.

The findings reveal that mothers' working hours had little to no effect on children's bullying behavior, while kids' perception of how much time they spent with their fathers had the most impact on their conduct.

The researchers concluded that children may seek negative attention at school when they feel that they are not receiving enough love at home.