Abstract
Background: Bullying and peer victimization are important, yet underestimated public health issues. Methods: Data were obtained in a sample of N=3454 children at the age of 12.6 (+/- 1.3) in Austria. 75% of the participants were not involved in bullying (uninvolved), 16% were victims, 4% bully/victims and 5% bullies. We applied a multivariate regression model relating to gender, established a classification into bullying and victimization, and investigated parental behavior, family characteristics, physical or mental illness of a parent, as well as internalizing symptoms of pupils. Results: Our data analysis demonstrated gender-related effects and the development of internalizing symptoms: Boys showed fewer internalizing symptoms than girls. Pupils with low perceived parental support displayed higher symptomatic scores. The variables of family break-up and parental health led to similar observations. Victims have an approximately 30% higher score on the internalizing scale than bullies and 60% higher scores than uninvolved. The results of the regression model indicated that these predictors explained 25% of the variance. Conclusion: School policies, teachers, parents, the media, school physicians, as well as GPs must recognize early warning signs of bullying and diligently assess risk behaviors. Early social support (by parents and teachers) is discussed as an important protective factor.
Highlights
AND BACKGROUNDBullying is an asymmetrical and interpersonal form of recurring or non-recurring aggressive behavior
Prevalence of Bullying, Victimization and Bully/Victimization: Depending on the diagnostic criteria used, bullying and victimization affect about 10 to 32% of all children [6]. 75% of the respondents in our study were not involved in bullying. 4% of our respondents were rated as bullies, 16% as victims and 5% as bully/victims
In our data 21% of the pupils reported being bullied [5]. data showed a total score of 19% of pupils being bullied. 21% of boys and 7% of girls rated themselves as bullies [29]. confirmed these percentages
Summary
Bullying is an asymmetrical and interpersonal form of recurring or non-recurring aggressive behavior (physical, verbal, social and electronic). It takes place in preschool, during adolescence and penetrates adult working places. Data from 11-, 13- and 15-year-old school-children in 40 countries (US, Canada, Europe N = 202.056) showed that 8.6% to 45.2% of boys and 4.8% to 35.8% of girls reported bullying at school [3]. No country showed more female than male bullies This cross-national OECD survey further demonstrated that peer victimization is more prevalent at the age of 15 than at the age of 13 when there are more migrants in class. Bullying and peer victimization are important, yet underestimated public health issues
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