Children who experience prolonged bullying can become chronically fearful and anxious. In extreme cases, a severely bullied child may be at an increased risk for suicide or for acting out violently. Witnesses to bullying, or bystanders, feel powerless, frightened, upset, and uncomfortable when they see other children victimized. Children who bully risk being rejected by their peers and developing more serious patterns of aggressive behavior as they grow. Empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of school-based programs that combine adult training, skill practice for children, schoolwide rules pertaining specifically to bullying, and increasing parental awareness of the problem.
Research also suggests that friendship acts as a buffer for bullying's harmful effects.
Steps to Respect is based on research demonstrating that teaching certain skills is an effective method of reducing bullying behavior. In lessons on friendship skills, the social skills children learn provide the foundation for subsequent lessons on how to respond to bullying. In addition, children learn how to recognize bullying, how to assertively refuse bullying, and how to report it to adults. Staff training, a central component of Steps to Respect, increases adult awareness of bullying at school and teaches them how to respond effectively to children's reports. Steps to Respect is divided into three levels.