Precipitating factors of school bullying in victims and bully-victims from eight-to-eleven-years of age
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35699/2178-1990.2023.44689Keywords:
Bullying, Precipitating Factors, Epidemiology, SchoolAbstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to identify precipitating factors of bullying in schoolchildren.
Methods: A total of 425 schoolchildren aged eight to eleven years, enrolled in public and private schools in Lavras, Brazil, participated in this cross-sectional study. The schoolchildren answered two questions addressing characteristics that could affect their relationships with peers and completed the Brazilian version of the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. The characteristics investigated included weight, height, facial features, dentofacial appearance, and other individual factors, such as halitosis and wearing glasses. Parents answered a questionnaire on demographic characteristics. Descriptive analysis and multinomial logistic regression were performed (p ≤ 0.05).
Results: Bully-victims were more likely to be enrolled in public schools (OR = 5.43, 95% CI: 1.14-25.91, p = 0.03). Victims of bullying were more likely to report characteristics such as halitosis, wearing glasses, and other aspects (OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.14-9.57, p = 0.02), as well as dentofacial appearance (OR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.38-10.41, p = 0.01), as factors that affected interactions with peers.
Conclusions: The findings show that physical appearance, socioeconomic aspect, and individual characteristics are factors associated with victims and bully-victims. Pediatric dentists should discuss these issues with their patients and parents/caregivers when taking patient history.
Downloads
References
Weng X, Chui WH, Liu L. Bullying behaviors among Macanese adolescents-association with psychosocial variables. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017;14(8):887.
Olweus D. School bullying: development and some important challenges. Ann Rev Clin Psychol. 2013;9:751-80.
Arseneault L. Annual Research Review: the persistent and pervasive impact of being bullied in childhood and adolescence: implications for policy and practice. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. 2018;59(4):405-21.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [Internet]. School violence and bullying: global status report [accessed 2021 Dec 15]. Available from: “https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000246970”
Armitage R. Bullying in children: impact on child health. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2021;5(1):e000939.
Wolke D, Lee K, Guy A. Cyberbullying: a storm in a teacup? Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017;26(8):899-908.
Rambaran JA, Dijkstra JK, Veenstra R. Bullying as a group process in childhood: a longitudinal social network analysis. Child Dev. 2020;91(4):1336-52.
Limber SP, Olweus D, Wang W, Masiello M, Breivik K. Evaluation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: a large scale study of U.S. students in grades 3-11. J Sch Psychol. 2018;69:56-72.
Sampasa-Kanyinga H, Chaput JP, Hamilton HA, Colman I. Bullying involvement, psychological distress, and short sleep duration among adolescents. Soc Psychiatr Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2018;53(12):1371-80.
Copeland WE, Wolke D, Angold A, Costello EJ. Adult psychiatric outcomes of bullying and being bullied by peers in childhood and adolescence. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(4):419-26.
Sahli J, Mellouli M, El Ghardallou M, Limam M, Gallas M, Ammar A, et al. Bullying among Tunisian middle school students: the prevalence, psychosocial associated factors and perceived involvement of parents, teachers and classmates. J Res Health Sci. 2018;18(2):e00414.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [Internet]. Behind the numbers: ending school violence and bullying. 2019 [accessed 2021 Dec 15]. Available from: “https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000366483”
Barasuol JC, Soares JP, Castro RG, Giacomin A, Gonçalves BM, Klein D, et al. Untreated dental caries is associated with reports of verbal bullying in children 8-10 years old. Caries Res. 2017;51(5):482-8.
Silva GRRE, Lima MLC, Acioli RML, Barreira AK. Prevalence and factors associated with bullying: differences between the roles of bullies and victims of bullying. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2020;96(6):693-701.
Isolan L, Salum GA, Osowski AT, Zottis GH, Manfro GG. Victims and bully-victims but not bullies are groups associated with anxiety symptomatology among Brazilian children and adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;22(1):641-8.
Al-Bitar ZB, Al-Omari IK, Sonbol HN, Al-Ahmad HT, Cunningham SJ. Bullying among Jordanian schoolchildren, its effects on school performance, and the contribution of general physical and dentofacial features. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2013;144(6):872-8.
Lian Q, Su Q, Li R, Elgar FJ, Liu Z, Zheng D. The association between chronic bullying victimization with weight status and body self-image: a cross-national study in 39 countries. PeerJ. 2018;6:e4330.
Malta DC, Mello FCM, Prado RR, Sá ACMGN, Marinho F, Pinto IV, et al. Prevalence of bullying and associated factors among Brazilian schoolchildren in 2015. Prevalência de bullying e fatores associados em escolares brasileiros, 2015. Cien Saude Colet. 2019;24(4):1359-68.
Tippett N, Wolke D. Socioeconomic status and bullying: a meta-analysis. Am J Public Health. 2014;104(6):e48-e59.
Hong JS, Choi J, Espelage DL, Wu CF, Boraggina-Ballard L, Fisher BW. Are children of welfare recipients at a heightened risk of bullying and peer victimization? Child Youth Care Forum. 2021;50:547-68.
von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP, et al. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Lancet. 2007;370(9596):1453-7.
Gonçalves FG, Heldt E, Peixoto BN, Rodrigues GA, Filipetto M, Guimarães LSP. Construct validity and reliability of Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire – Brazilian version. Psicol Reflex Crit. 2016;29:1-8.
Mark L, Värnik A, Sisask M. Who suffers most from being involved in bullying-bully, victim, or bully-victim? J Sch Health. 2019;89(2):136-44.
Fleming LC, Jacobsen KH. Bullying among middle-school students in low and middle income countries. Health Promot Internation. 2010;25(1):73-84.
Moraes RB, Knorst JK, Brondani B, Marques BB, Reis MS, Henriqson D, et al. Relationship between gingival bleeding and associated factors with reports of verbal bullying in adolescents. J Periodontol. 2021;92(2):225-33.
Pernice-Duca F, Taiariol J, Yoon J. Perceptions of school and family climates and experiences of relational aggression. J Sch Violence. 2010;9:303-19.
Ribeiro DF, Andrade AS. The asymmetric relationship between families and the public school. Paidéia. 2006;16(35):385-94.
Waanders C, Mendez JL, Downer J. Parent characteristics, economic stress and neighborhood context as predictors of parent involvement in preschool children’s education. J Sch Psychol. 2007;45(6):619-36.
Al-Omari IK, Al-Bitar ZB, Sonbol HN, Al-Ahmad HT, Cunningham SJ, Al-Omiri M. Impact of bullying due to dentofacial features on oral health-related quality of life. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2014;146(6):734-9.
Hensley V. Childhood bullying: a review and implications for health care professionals. Nurs Clin North Am. 2013;48(2):203-13.
Carr-Gregg M, Manocha R. Bullying - effects, prevalence and strategies for detection. Aust Fam Physician. 2011;40(3):98-102.
Shetgiri R. Bullying and victimization among children. Adv Pediatr. 2013;60(1):33-51.
