The Relationship Between School Connectedness and Bullying in U.S. High School Students.

This article examines the association between school connectedness—defined as students' feelings of closeness and support from peers and school personnel—and experiences of bullying among U.S. high school students during the COVID-19 and post-COVID eras, using data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Findings indicate that female students, those in 9th and 10th grades, and White students reported higher rates of both in-person and electronic bullying. Importantly, students who felt closer to others at school were significantly less likely to report being bullied, suggesting school connectedness may serve as a protective factor against bullying. The study highlights the need for school-based programs to foster connectedness and recommends further research on the role of school nurses in supporting students' wellbeing and reducing bullying.