Bullying e fatores associados em adolescentes da Região Sudeste segundo a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar

Psychosocial stressors and determinants of loneliness among school-going adolescents globally

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is an intense psychosocial health problem among adolescents. This study was carried out to comprehensively examine the prevalence and risk factors associated with loneliness among adolescents.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a comprehensive survey Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) involving 179,937 adolescents aged 11-17 years from 59 countries. Binary logistic regression was applied to identify the factors associated with loneliness among adolescents.

RESULTS

A total of 179,937 adolescents aged 11-17 years from 59 countries where 85,158 (47.44 %) male and 94,362 (52.56 %) female participated in the study. Eastern Mediterranean Region had the greatest prevalence (15.83, CI: 15.81-15.84), much higher than the overall prevalence of 11.16. In contrast, South-East Asia had the lowest estimate (8.45, CI: 8.44-8.58), indicating better results or lower prevalence. The African Region (12.21, CI: 12.19-12.23) and Region of the Americas (11.01, CI: 10.98-11.04) are closer to the world average than the Western Pacific Region (10.50, 10.48-10.52). Occasionally, adolescents experienced food insecurity (AOR: 1.21, 95 % CI: 1.1-1.33) and frequently or always (AOR: 2.11, 95 % CI: 1.81-2.46) had high levels of loneliness. Being bullied, physically fighting, seriously injured, had no close friends, parents sometimes or rarely check homework, parents never understand problem, sedentary behavior 3-4 h or >4 h, suicidal ideation, and suicidal plan were all highly associated with loneliness.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the pressing need for policies and programs aimed at mitigating the mental health crisis among adolescents globally.

[Bullying victimization and associated factors among schoolchildren in a city in the south of Brazil]

The objective was to assess the prevalence of bullying victimization and associated factors among adolescents in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted with 795 ninth grade students from 25 urban municipal schools linked to the School Health Program. Bullying was assessed using questions that addressed the occurrence, frequency, location, type of violence suffered and how much it bothers the victims. Gross and adjusted analyses were performed by Poisson regression. Approximately 71% of the students reported having suffered bullying, and school was the location of greatest occurrence (86.7%). Among the types of aggression suffered, "nicknames" was the most recurrent complaint (88.4%), followed by exclusion or isolation (26.6%). Victimization was more frequent among girls (PR 1.13; 95%CI 1.02-1.27), students with non-white skin color/race (PR 1.16; 95%CI 1.05-1.29), who have already tried tobacco (PR 1.14; 95%CI 1.03-1.27), dissatisfied (PR 1.42; 95%CI 1.27-1.58) or indifferent (PR 1.21; 95%CI 1.02-1.43) about their bodies, and who were overweight (PR 1.15; 95%CI 1.04-1.27). The results show that bullying is a frequent practice in the school environment, pointing to the need for educational practices aimed at reducing and preventing this type of violence.

Influence factors associated with health risk behaviors of middle school students in the poverty area of China: An observational study

We aim to investigate the status and influence factors of health risk behaviors among middle school students and explore the relationship between social support, family care, and the health risk behaviors. The study was conducted in 3 middle schools in the Fan county located in the Puyang city. Independent measures were applied to assess adolescent health risk behaviors, perceive social support, and family care. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the main factors that affect adolescent health risk behaviors. The total scores of health risk behaviors were 53.87 ± 9.97, and all kinds of health risk behaviors were very common. The highest score was health-compromising (2.45 ± 0.43), and the lowest score was unprotected sex behaviors (1.07 ± 0.28). Multiple regression analysis showed that sex (P < .001), grade (P < .001), parent relationships (P < .001), father's occupation (P = .035), mother's education level (P = .011), social support (P < .001), affection (P < .001), and growth (P = .003) were the main factors of health risk behaviors, accounting for 25.3%. The health risk behaviors among middle school students in Fan county should attract the attention of education administration, schools, and parent due to the varied influencing factors. Related interventions should be conducted to reduce the severity and frequency of adolescent health risk behaviors and protect the health and growth of adolescents. In order to better analyze the health risk behaviors of middle school students, we will incorporate more influencing factors and carry out further causal analysis in the future.

Racial-Based Bullying and Substance Use: a Brazilian National Cross-Sectional Survey Among Students

Racial discrimination has been associated with worse health status and risky health behavior. Understanding the relationship between racial-based bullying (RBB) — an overlap of bullying and interpersonal racial discrimination — and substance use can guide school-based actions to prevent bullying and substance use, but investigations rarely involve Brazilian students. We used data from the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE) 2015, which included 102,072 ninth-grade students from the capital and inland cities in the five regions of Brazil. Students self-reported their race/skin color according to the Brazilian official census. We explored racial and recent RBB differences in recent use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances [marijuana, cocaine, crack, sniffed glue, loló/lança-perfume (ether and chloroform blend)] by comparing prevalence ratios (estimated with quasi-Poisson, crude, and adjusted models by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics) obtained from analyses of imputed data and complete case. We found that RBB prevalence increased according to racial categories associated with darker skin tones; racial differences in the prevalence of RBB were greater among girls than boys. Girls from all racial groups consistently had a higher prevalence of alcohol use than boys. RBB partially explained the recent use of alcohol and tobacco for the minority racial groups and was not associated with the use of other substances. School-based actions should explicitly incorporate anti-racist goals as strategies for substance use prevention, giving particular attention to gender issues in racial discrimination and alcohol use.

Loneliness and associated factors among Brazilian adolescents: results of national adolescent school-based health survey 2015

OBJECTIVE

To identify the associated factors to loneliness among Brazilian adolescents, considering this is a knowledge gap and given its severity. The United Nations estimates that mental health problems affect approximately 20% of adolescents worldwide.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study with data from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey 2015, conducted with students aged 13-17 in Brazil. The statistical analysis was performed with the calculation of the prevalence of feeling loneliness reported. Poisson regression with the adjusted Prevalence Ratio was used to evaluate the association between sociodemographic characteristics, family context, mental health and lifestyles, and feelings of loneliness.

RESULTS

15,5% of Brazilian students reported loneliness in the last 12 months. Female gender, higher maternal education, insomnia and be bullying victims rarely or sometimes and most of the time or always had a higher prevalence rate of loneliness. Having friends, having a meal with parents or guardians 5 days or more a week and having understanding parents showed a lower prevalence ratio for loneliness.

CONCLUSION

Loneliness feeling is frequent among adolescents and is associated with female gender, less social and family support, intra-family violence and risk behaviors such as alcohol consumption and bullying. Policies to promote physical and mental well-being in this age group, stimulating friendship and family participation in the lives of adolescents should be made .

Transitions in aggression among children: Effects of gender and exposure to online violence

This study assessed aggression statuses and transitions among children and examined the effects that gender and exposure to online violence can exert on aggression. A sample of 2155 children recruited from 30 primary schools in Taipei, Taiwan completed surveys in both 2015 (5th grade) and 2016 (6th grade). Latent transition analysis (LTA) was performed, and the results identified three latent statuses of aggression: "None," "School aggression," and "Cyber-aggression." About 10% of children behaved aggressively. When in their 5th-grade year, boys were more likely than girls to be a school aggressor (6.48% vs. 4.04%) or a cyber-aggressor (2.37% vs. 1.64%). Among boys who originally were considered to be a school aggressor, 36.19% remained so, 58% renounced their school aggression status, and 5.81% became a cyber-aggressor. Among girls who originally were considered to be a cyber-aggressor, 22.23% remained so, 68.29% renounced their cyber-aggression status, and 9.48% became a school aggressor. Controlling for student's academic performance, household income, and parents' marital status, exposure to online violence was a statistically significant predictor of aggression status for both boys and girls. Children's exposure to online violence appeared to increase the risk of aggression.

Risk and protective factors related to domestic violence against Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To describe the factors associated with domestic violence against Brazilian adolescents.

METHODOLOGY

Descriptive analysis of the variables and calculation of the prevalence of intrafamily violence reported by the students was performed, followed by multinomial regression with calculation of the adjusted odds ratio to analyze the association between the variables and the outcome investigated.

RESULTS

Black skin color (ORa = 1.9; 95%CI 1.4 - 2.7) and brown (ORa = 1.4; 95%CI 1.0 - 1.9), insomnia (ORa = 1.8; 95%CI 1.4 - 2.4), bullying (ORa = 2.5; 95%CI 1.7 - 3.7) and alcohol consumption (ORa = 1.5; 95%CI 1.1 - 1.9) increased the chances of adolescents suffering an episode of intrafamily violence. Bullying (ORa = 3.9; 95%CI 2.8 - 5.3) and alcohol consumption (ORa = 2.2; 95%CI 1.7 - 2.7) contributed up to 4 times more not to suffer more than one episode of domestic violence. Habits such as eating with family (ORa = 0.7; 95%CI 0.5 - 1.0) and having parents who understand their problems (ORa = 0.6; 95%CI 0.5 - 0,7) proved to be protective factors for intrafamily violence.

CONCLUSION

Intrafamily violence against adolescents is related to family interactions, psychoactive substance use and violence in the school environment. Thus, it reveals the importance of the participation of parents and guardians in the prevention of violence and risk behaviors in the lives of Brazilian adolescents.

Maternal Awareness of Adolescent Bullying Victimization in a Low-Income Context

Background:

Adolescents and parents often disagree about the perception of bullying victimization since adults tend to underestimate its occurrence.

Objective:

This study identifies factors that can influence maternal perception of bullying victimization experienced by her son/daughter in the past 12 months.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study involved a representative sample of in-school adolescents (n=669, 11-15-years) living in Itaboraí city, Brazil (mean age±SE: 13.01±0.07 years; 51.7% females). A 3-stage probabilistic sampling procedure (random selection of census units, eligible households and target child) generated sampling weights. Trained lay interviewers individually applied semi-structured questionnaires to mothers and adolescents in the households. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined factors potentially influencing maternal perception of bullying victimization experienced by her son/daughter: adolescent gender and age, adolescent self-perceived bullying victimization, exposure to severe physical punishment by parents, internalizing/externalizing behaviour problems identified by the Youth Self-Report/YSR, maternal education and maternal anxiety/depression identified by the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire/SRQ-20.

Results:

Univariable logistic regression analysis identified a strong association between adolescent self-perceived bullying victimization and maternal perception of bullying victimization experienced by her son/daughter. Multivariable models showed that adolescent perception influenced maternal perception when adolescents had no clinical internalizing behaviour problems and when mothers had higher education.

Conclusion:

Anxious/depressive adolescents may hide victimization incidents, while those with no problems probably reveal these incidents to the mother. Considering that maternal low education is an indicator of low socioeconomic status, which is associated with multiple stressors, less educated mothers may be more likely to interpret these incidents as a common part of growing-up.

Vitimização por bullying e fatores associados em estudantes brasileiros com idade de 13 a 17 anos: estudo populacional

RESUMO: Objetivo: Analisar fatores escolares, sociodemográficos, nutricionais e de percepção corporal e comportamental associados à vitimização por bullying entre estudantes brasileiros com idade de 13 a 17 anos. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com base nos dados da amostra 2 da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar 2015. A amostra do presente estudo é composta de 10.699 adolescentes de escolas de cada grande região do país. Resultados: A prevalência de vitimização por bullying foi de 6,2%, com maiores chances de vitimização em adolescentes que praticam bullying (razão de chances - OR = 1,91, intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95% 1,48 - 2,45), com idade de 13 anos (OR = 1,76, IC95% 1,04 - 2,97), que se consideram gordos (OR = 1,45, IC95% 1,06 - 1,98) e não são bem tratados na escola pelos colegas (OR = 2,78, IC95% 2,17 - 3,45). Conclusão: Esforços preventivos que incluam programas de incentivo ao maior suporte social entre os estudantes e a implementação de práticas que reforcem o respeito às diferenças e peculiaridades dos alunos podem contribuir para a redução da vitimização por bullying.

Prevalence of bullying and associated factors among Brazilian schoolchildren in 2015

This study analyzed the prevalence of bullying and associated factors among Brazilian schoolchildren using data produced by the 2015 National School Health Survey (PeNSE, acronym in Portuguese) consisting of a national sample of 102,301 eighth grade students. The prevalence of bullying was calculated and bivariate analysis was performed using a 95% confidence level to determine the association between victimization and socio-demographic variables and other variables relating to family background, mental health, and risk behaviors. Multivariate analysis was then conducted using the biologically plausible variables of interest. For the final model, variables that obtained p-values of < 0.05 were maintained. The prevalence of bullying was found to be 7.4%. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that boys aged 13 years studying in public schools who worked and whose mother did not have any schooling were more likely to be bullied, as were schoolchildren who felt lonely, had no friends, suffered from insomnia, skipped lessons without parental permission, and who smoked. Victims of bullying were predominantly 13-year-olds from an unfavorable social and family background, painting a picture of vulnerability that calls for support from social protection networks, schools and families alike .

Prevalence of school violence and use of alcohol and other drugs in adolescents

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the school violence suffered and practiced and its association with the use of alcohol and other drugs in adolescents between 12 and 18 years old.

METHOD

the study sample consisted of 643 adolescents enrolled in six schools, who answered two self-administered questionnaires: "Global School-based Student Health Survey" and "Violence in School". Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test and the degree of association between the variables was analyzed using the prevalence ratio.

RESULTS

the prevalence of school violence suffered and practiced was 62.2% and 51.9%, respectively. About 44.6% of the aggressors said they did not want to change their behavior. There was an expressive prevalence of alcohol use (16.5%), tobacco (15.7%) and illicit drugs (6.8%), and drunkenness (12.6%). There was a significant association between the violence suffered and the age group of 12 to 14 years old (p=0.001); (p=0.011) and education level in elementary school (p<0.001). In mothers with less than eight years of studies, the association was significant for the violence practiced (p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

the study contributes to the aspects involved in school violence, which can subsidize actions and policies in this area.

Evidences of the association between individual attributes and bullying: a cross-sectional study with adolescents from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bullying and to verify the association between nutritional status, demographic and socioeconomic factors, and individual attributes among schoolchildren aged from 11 to 14 years. This is cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of 975 adolescents attending public and private schools in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Bullying was investigated with a self-administered questionnaire by applying Item Response Theory and dichotomized according to victimization or not. Body mass index (BMI) was classified according to the World Health Organization criteria. Data such as age, school type and location, household income, as well as the education background of the parents were collected by a questionnaire given to the parents. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed using logistic regression. The prevalence of victims of bullying and of overweight/obese adolescents was 13.2% and 29%, respectively. No association was found between bullying and age, sex, school type, mother's education, household income, and overweight/obesity. The crude analysis model indicated that overweight/obese adolescents and those with individual attributes (fat, thin, tall, short, good-looking, ugly, from a different ethnic background, rich, poor, with a disability and/or other) had a greater chance of being bullied. In the analysis model adjusted by household income and stratified by sex, boys were discriminated for being fat, good-looking, ugly, or for having a disability, while girls were discriminated for being fat, tall, short, ugly, rich, poor, among other individual attributes.

Evolução do relato de sofrer bullying entre escolares brasileiros: Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar - 2009 a 2015

RESUMO: Introdução: O estudo objetivou comparar a tendência de bullying nas capitais brasileiras, considerando as edições da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) 2009, 2012 e 2015, e descrever na amostra de 2015 a prevalência do bullying por sexo, idade e dependência administrativa da escola. Metodologia: Foram comparadas as prevalências de sofrer bullying e seus intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%), por cada capital e total de capitais. Foram considerados os IC95% para verificar a ocorrência de diferenças no período. Na última edição, foram analisadas duas amostras: a amostra 1 representa os alunos do 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental e a amostra 2, alunos de 13 a 17 anos, estudantes do 6º ao 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental e do 1º ao 3º ano do Ensino Médio. Resultados: O relato de sofrer bullying entre os alunos do 9º ano das capitais brasileiras aumentou de 5,4% (IC95% 5,1 - 5,7), em 2009, para 7,2% (IC95% 6,6 - 7,8), em 2012, e 7,4% (IC95% 7,1 - 7,7), em 2015. Uma análise descritiva do Brasil apontou variação do problema com a idade e que adolescentes de 13 anos sofreram mais bullying que alunos de 14 a 16 anos. Meninos em geral relatam mais esse problema que as meninas, bem como alunos da escola pública, embora com sobreposição dos IC. Discussão: O estudo apontou aumento de 37% da prevalência de sofrer bullying entre 2009 e 2015 nas capitais brasileiras. Conclusão: Reitera-se do estudo que o contexto escolar brasileiro continua sendo um espaço de reprodução da violência, tornando-se urgente avançar na perspectiva de prevenção e minimização das situações de bullying na escola, fundamentada no conceito de promoção da saúde e integralidade do cuidado.