Prevalence rates of drug use among school bullies and victims: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies

Abstract

a b s t r a c tBullying is a common aggressive behaviour in school, with a number of cross-sectional studies showing that it exhibits a high comorbidity with other problem behaviours. The present study aims to estimate the comorbidity of school bullying (perpetration and victimisation) with drug use by incorporating and meta-analysing all available evidence on the cross-sectional association between the two variables. Meta-analytic results are based on a comprehensive systematic review across 20 databases and 46 journals. A total of 61 relevant manuscripts were included in the systematic review. Following explicit methodological criteria for the inclusion/exclusion of reports, 13 of them were eligible for the meta-analysis. The association of school bullying perpetration with drug use (adjusted odds ratio OR = 2.82; 95% CI 1.97-4.02; z = 5.71; p b .001) suggests a very strong relationship. For example, if a quarter of children were bullies and a quarter were drug users, this value of the OR would correspond to 40.88% of bullies being also drug users, compared with 19.71% of non-bullies. The association of school bullying victimisation with drug use (adjusted odds ratio OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.38-2.32; z = 4.41; p b .001) suggests a moderate relationship. For example, if a quarter of children were victims and a quarter were drug users, this value of the OR would correspond to 33.69% of bullied youth also being drug users, compared with 22.1% of non-bullied youth. Adjusted effect sizes are based on study findings that used statistical controls for confounding variables, thus providing the unique association of school bullying with drug use over and above other important risk factors that may explain this association. Implications for policy and intervention research arising from this review are highlighted.

Trends in bullying victimization by gender among U.S. high school students

“…Bullying victimization is a common social determinant of health among adolescents, with 8% of 15 year olds surveyed in 37 countries reporting at least two episodes of bullying victimization in the previous “few” months (WHO, ). Research has shown that bullying victims have a significantly greater risk of depression (Bowes, Joinson, Wolke, & Lewis, ), suicide (Bauman et al, ; Messias et al, ; Mueller et al, ; Sibold et al, ; Van Geel et al, ), substance use (Valdebenito, Ttofi, & Eisner, ), sexual risk‐taking (Hertz, Everett, Barrios, David‐Ferdon, & Holt, ), school avoidance (Hutzell & Payne, ) and other psychological and behavioral problems (Litwiller & Brausch, ; Olweus, ). Because of the numerous associated negative health outcomes, including suicidality (Bauman et al, ; Messias et al, ; Mueller et al, ; Sibold et al, ; Van Geel et al, ), greater attention has been given to address this form of victimization, especially now that new forms of bullying victimization are possible through social media.…”

The Child Adolescent Bullying Scale (CABS): Psychometric evaluation of a new measure

“…The current federal definition for bullying is “Any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated” (Gladden, Vivolo‐Kantor, Hamburger, & Lumpkin, ). In meta‐analyses and systematic reviews, exposure to bullying has been linked to numerous psychosocial, and academic problems (Hawker & Boulton, ; Holt et al, ; Katz‐Wise & Hyde, ; Reijntjes et al, ; Reijntjes, Kamphuis, Prinzie, & Telch, ; Valdebenito, Ttofi, & Eisner, ). Bullied youths have higher rates of common physical health problems (e.g., headaches, stomachaches, sore throats) and significantly higher levels of psychosomatic symptomatology (e.g., poor appetite, sleeping issues) when compared to non‐bullied youths (Due et al, ; Fekkes, Pijpers, Fredriks, Vogels, & Verloove‐Vanhorick, ; Gini & Pozzoli, ).…”

Bullies, Victims and Provocative Victims in Context: Discriminant Factors in a Portuguese Adolescent Sample

“…In contrast to the study developed by Luk, Wang and Simons-Morton (2010), in this analysis were bullies who showed a higher consumption of all substances, when compared to victims and provocative victims. Associated with increased consumption and use of multiple substances, bullies are also recognized for their antisocial behavior (Cerezo & Méndez, 2013) and expression of externalizing problems when compared with victims (Valdebenito, Ttofi & Eisner, 2015).…”

“…Often associated with a higher socioeconomic level (Cosma, Róbert & Baban, 2015), bullies reveal more frequency of smoking behaviors (susceptibility for use, experimentation and current consumption) (Calleja, 2016), increased risk of alcohol consumption (Vieno, Gini & Santinello, 2011), possibly due to their high level of social integration (Archimi & Kuntsche, 2014), and a propensity to drug use three times higher that youth not involved in bullying behaviors (Valdebenito, Ttofi & Eisner, 2015).…”