Bullying among adolescents in a sub-Saharan middle-income setting

Michael L Wilson; Pascal Bovet; Bharathi Viswanathan; Joan-Carles Suris

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.11.024

Bullying among adolescents in a sub-Saharan middle-income setting

J Adolesc Health. 2012 Jul;51(1):96-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.11.024. Epub 2012 Feb 22.

Authors

Michael L Wilson¹, Pascal Bovet, Bharathi Viswanathan, Joan-Carles Suris

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.

PMID: 22727084
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.11.024

Abstract

Purpose: This study explored factors associated with self-reported bullying among adolescents in a sub-Saharan country.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of adolescents (n = 1,427) in the Seychelles was drawn from the Global School-based Student Health Survey. Bullied adolescents were compared with non-bullied adolescents with respect to several sociodemographic factors. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results: Within a 30 day period, 38.8% of adolescents reported being bullied. Bullied youths were more likely to be depressed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.63; confidence intervals [CI] = 1.27-1.07) and socially deprived (aOR = 1.85; CI = 1.30-2.61). Being older (aOR = .83; CI = .77-.90) and having close friends (aOR = .53; CI = .31-.91) were protective factors.

Conclusions: The prevalence of bullying in the Seychelles is high, and social correlates are similar to those in industrialized settings. More research is needed to examine bullying patterns outside the school environment.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior*
Bullying*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Female
Humans
Male
Odds Ratio
Peer Group
Risk Factors
Seychelles / epidemiology
Social Class