Bullying and associated factors among Brazilian adolescents: analysis of the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2012)

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Objective: To estimate the prevalence of bullying from the victim's perspective in Brazilian school children and to analyze its association with individual and family context variables. Methods: An analysis of the data on 109,104 adolescents, obtained by the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey, held in schools in 2012, was carried out. An association model between bullying and explanatory variables was tested in different contexts: sociodemographic, risk behaviors, mental health and family context. Univariate and multivariate analyzes were performed, calculating the Odds Ratio and confidence intervals. Results: The prevalence of bullying found in this study was of 7.2% (95%CI 6.6 -7.8). A higher chance of bullying was found among male students (OR = 1.58; 95%CI 1.51 -1.66), with an inverse relation between age and bullying, with the magnitude of risk among adolescents younger than 13 years of age being higher when compared to those with 16 years of age or more. Of individual risk behaviors, only being a smoker remained in the final model (OR = 1.11; 95%CI 1.01 -1.23). Mental health variables associated with bullying were: feeling lonely (OR = 2.66; 95%CI 2.52 -2.81), insomnia (OR = 1.92; 95%CI 1.80 -2.05), not having friends (OR = 1.71; 95%CI 1.54 -1.89), and, in the family context, those who skip class without telling their parents (OR = 1.13; 95%CI 1,07 -1,19) and those who suffer physical abuse by family members (OR = 2.03; 95%CI 1.91 -2.146). Conclusion: Bullying was associated to male students, younger, of black color, smokers, with mental health vulnerabilities and victims of domestic violence. This suggests the need for a holistic approach from education and health professionals, parents and the community in seeking measures for the prevention of bullying.

Violências contra adolescentes nas capitais brasileiras, segundo inquérito em serviços de urgência

“…Despite not including specific questions about this issue, the findings of the VIVA survey were consistent with those of other studies that showed that violence against school children in the form of threats and the use of fear particularly affects younger adolescents 31,32 It is also important to note the fact that victims sought treatment at urgent and emergency care centers, probably suggesting that they were victims of more serious violent events resulting in injury, thus demonstrating that tackling violence at school should be a priority.…”

“…Bullying consists of threats and insults made by friends or classmates, but can also involve the use of physical force 32 . This problem has been studied by surveys of adolescents, such as the National School Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar -PeNSE) 31,32 . Studies have shown that there is a significant association between violence experienced by adolescents and involvement in acts of violence at school, either as victims or perpetrators 33 .…”

A prática de bullying entre escolares brasileiros e fatores associados, Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar 2015

“…However, these parental practices are incompatible with what one would expect of mothers with more years of schooling. On the other hand, parental supervision seems to protect children from bullying, as has been reported in the literature 14 .…”

“…In Brazil, the first two PeNSEs (National School Health Survey) found increasing rates of involvement in bullying among the students; 5.4% of students in state capitals reported having been bullied in 2009, and 7.2% in 2012 [13][14][15][16] .…”

Bullying at school: Agreement between caregivers’ and children’s perception

“…Unlike other types of violence, there is no incitement from the victim's side. 2 In recent years, peer-peer bullying in the school setting has become increasingly prominent due to its escalation and negative impact on the health status of affected children, [3][4][5][6][7][8] and has transcended the school sphere to become a major public health problem. 3,4 One of the factors that contributes to its importance is that referred to as "code of silence" by Ortega.…”