Scheduled for Health Free Communications, Saturday, April 16, 2005, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM, Convention Center: E271b


Bullying Behavior: Threatening the Health of Adolescents

David Sallee1, Lori A. Gano-Overway1, Kerry J. Redican2 and Jo Ann Burkholder3, (1)Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA, (2)Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, (3)Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Roanoke, VA

The presence of bullying behavior has long been a concern for school personnel. In fact, it has been estimated that 15% to 20% of students will be subjected to some level of bullying while in school (Batsche & Knoff, 1994). This prevalence of bullying has lead several researchers to examine the negative effects of bullying behavior on mental and physical health (Craig, 1998; Kaltiala-Heino, Rimpela, Rantanen & Rimpela, 2000; Nansel, Overpeck, Pilla, Ruan, Simons-Morton, & Scheidt, 2001; Olweus, 1995; Rigby, 1998). Victims of bullying experienced greater risk of anxiety, psychosomatic symptoms, and depression while also identifying a greater number of physical health behaviors. Health concerns have also arisen for bullies and those that identify themselves as both bully and victim of bullying (bully-victims). Bullies have exhibited anxiety, loneliness, and depression, listed a high prevalence of health complaints, and engaged in problem behaviors (e.g., alcohol use). Bully-victims have experienced symptoms very similar to bullies and victims, however, discrepancies have been noted in the types of risk behaviors exhibited. The aim of this study was to further explore health risks affiliated with bullying behavior among adolescents. The participants were 2299 high school students who completed a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1999). Six questions exploring bullying prevalence were added to the survey. The frequency of those that identified themselves as a bully (12.5%), bully-victims (7.3%) and victims (6.0%) corresponded to other studies. Of those that identified themselves in the above categories, males indicated that they bullied others (64.8%) and were a bully-victim (61.1%) more than females. Females had slightly higher rates of being bullied (52.6%). Examination of odds ratios revealed that bullies, bully-victims, and victims were at increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors, drug use, risky sexual behavior, and school violence than those who were neither a bully nor victim. Bully-victims seemed to be at greater risk for being threatened at school, smoking, smoking and drinking at an early age, engaging in suicidal ideation and behaviors, using hard core drugs (e.g., cocaine), having sex at a younger age and with more sexual partners. Victims exhibited the greatest risk for using substances before a sexual encounter, using inhalants, and missing school for safety concerns. Bullies demonstrated the highest risk for fighting, drinking alcohol, and using marijuana and steroids. These findings suggest that intervention strategies should extend to all individuals involved in bullying behavior.
Keyword(s): health promotion, high school issues

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