Kids can undergo bullying even in the actual classroom, according to research presented at the annual general meeting of the American Public Health Association.

Those bullied in class feel more threatened and unsafe than those abused elsewhere in the school.

Bullying was most prevalent in the classroom, lunchroom and hallways, according to a survey of 10,000 middle school students.

Within the most recent month, 43 per cent had been physically bullied; 51 per cent teased in an unfriendly way; 50 per cent called hurtful names; 31 per cent excluded from a group; 28 per cent had belongings taken or broken; 39 per cent had an unkind rumours spread; and 21 per cent were physically threatened. Additionally, 66 per cent had been the victim of multiple bullying in the surveyed month.

During the school year, eight per cent had skipped school at least once fearing bullying. One out of every four students had skipped recess, not gone to the bathroom, lunch or a class, went home pretending to be sick, or avoided a hallway or some other place at school to escape bullying.