What are the Consequences of being Hazed?
Nearly three-quarters of the high school students who reported they were hazed said they had one or more negative consequences.
Consequences | % | Consequences | % |
---|---|---|---|
Consequences Got into a fight |
% 24 |
Consequences Committed a crime |
% 16 |
Consequences Was injured |
% 23 |
Consequences Considered suicide |
% 15 |
Consequences Fought with my parents |
% 22 |
Consequences Got sick |
% 12 |
Consequences Did poorly in school work |
% 21 |
Consequences Quit going out with friends |
% 11 |
Consequences Missed school, practice, work, meeting |
% 19 |
Consequences Got in trouble with police |
% 10 |
Consequences Hurt someone else |
% 20 |
Consequences Was convicted of a crime |
% 4 |
Consequences Had difficulty eating, sleeping, concentrating |
% 18 |
Consequences One or more negative consequence |
% 71 |
Twelve percent (n=32) reported "other" consequences, including:
- Negative consequences: was depressed, cried all the time, was completely miserable, fought with my family, was uncomfortable, was tormented throughout high school, "was made fun of-but who cares?", suffered low self-esteem, was insulted, had an emotional break-down, or sustained internal bruising (41%).
- Positive consequences: gained valuable life experiences, matured, really woke up, or experienced joy/elation/satisfaction, natural high, found it challenging, had fun (31%).
- Relief: was relieved or glad to know others had done it too (29%).
Among the students who reported being hazed, their feelings were split between negative and positive. Many reported both. Thirteen percent wanted revenge, but reported few other feelings.
Negative Feelings | % | Positive Feelings | % |
---|---|---|---|
Negative Feelings Angry |
% 35 |
Positive Feelings Part of the group |
% 43 |
Negative Feelings Embarrassed |
% 28 |
Positive Feelings Proud |
% 30 |
Negative Feelings Confused |
% 25 |
Positive Feelings Strong |
% 27 |
Negative Feelings Guilty |
% 23 |
Positive Feelings Trusted |
% 18 |
Negative Feelings Regretful |
% 21 |
Positive Feelings Total |
% 59 |
Negative Feelings Sad |
% 20 |
Positive Feelings Other Feelings |
% |
Negative Feelings Total |
% 59 |
Positive Feelings Wanted Revenge |
% 13 |
Negative Feelings Categories of Feelings |
% % |
Positive Feelings |
% |
Negative Feelings Negative Feelings |
% 27 |
Positive Feelings |
% |
Negative Feelings Both Negative and Positive |
% 32 |
Positive Feelings |
% |
Negative Feelings Positive Feelings |
% 27 |
Positive Feelings |
% |
Negative Feelings Revenge |
% 14 |
Positive Feelings |
% |
- Negative feelings: felt hurt, betrayed ("those people were supposed to be my friends"), used, lonely ("I was lonely and would have done anything. That's stupid."), unintelligent, dirty, dishonored, worthless, degraded (sic), hatred, afraid or "guilty after I returned my meanness," had fun, was excited, happy, real, alive, felt good about myself, cool, confident, strong, and like a family.
- Neutral feelings: normal, relieved, glad it was over, or indifferent. (One student said, "It was fun, but I was angry because there's no choice.")
Students who thought hazing was a problem felt isolated from adults. Forty percent of the students said they wouldn't report hazing. When asked why they would not report hazing, 36 percent replied: "There's no one to tell. Who could I tell?" Twenty-seven percent said "Adults would not know how to handle it" and 28 percent said, "It's not a problem. Sometimes accidents happen." Peer pressure seemed less of a factor in not reporting hazing. Twenty-four percent said "Other kids would make my life miserable," and 16 percent said "I just wouldn't tell on my friends, no matter what."
Student Reporting of Hazing | % |
---|---|
Student Reporting of Hazing Would you report hazing? No |
% 40 |
Student Reporting of Hazing If not, why not (mark all that apply) |
% |
Student Reporting of Hazing There's no one to tell. Who could I tell? |
% 36 |
Student Reporting of Hazing It's not a problem. Sometimes accidents happen. |
% 28 |
Student Reporting of Hazing Adults wouldn't know how to handle it right. |
% 27 |
Student Reporting of Hazing Other kids would make my life miserable. |
% 24 |
Student Reporting of Hazing I just wouldn't tell on my friends no matter what. |
% 16 |