The relationship between school connectedness and bullying among a cohort of American high school students in the COVID and post-COVID eras has yet to be studied. Data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed to gain insight into this association. Weighted percentages were calculated, and multivariable logistic regression was conducted. More female, 9th and 10th grade and White participants reported being bullied at school (55.5%, 57.4%, 60.5%, respectively) and electronically (63.2%, 54.4%, 60.2%, respectively) compared to their counterparts. The regression model indicated that sex, grade, race/ethnicity, and school closeness were significantly associated with being bullied. Taking sex, grade, and race/ethnicity into account, the more strongly high schoolers agreed with feelings of school closeness, the less likely they were to report being bullied, both at school and electronically. Findings can be used to inform programs to improve school connectedness and address bullying, aiming to enhance the wellbeing of adolescents.
Keywords: adolescence; bullying; school closeness; school connectedness; school health services; school nursing; youth risk behavior survey.