Bullying victimization: Associated contextual factors in a Greek sample of children and adolescents

Bullying and coping with bullying among obese\overweight and normal weight children

This study aimed to determine the obese\overweight and normal weight children's status of encountering and coping with bullying and the correlational factors. This case-control study was conducted with 1.680 students in the second level (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades) from September 24, 2018 to May 31, 2019 in the Mediterranean Region in Turkey. The data were collected using a personal information form, the Traditional Peer Victimization Scale and the Coping with Bullying Scale. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test, Binary Logistic Regression, Backward Wald Elimination, and Simple Linear and Backward Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression analyses. This study indicated that the risk of becoming victims, bullies or bully-victims increases among boys and 8th grade students. It also found that the risk of being victims and bully-victims increases among children whose father is illiterate. There was no significant difference between obese\overweight and normal weight children in terms of being victims, bullies and bully-victims. Grade level, academic performance, father's education level and awareness of reporting bullying were effective in coping with bullying among the children, while weight was not. Further studies are needed to determine different factors that affect children's coping strategies against bullying.

Increased Incidence of Stress-related Tic Habit Cough in Children During the Recent Greek Financial Crisis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Tic habit cough (THC) is not easily recognized and requires a high index of suspicion. Since there is evidence for stress-related etiology, the study presents our experience during the eight-year period of the recent Greek financial crisis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a descriptive prospective cross-sectional clinical study using a consistent approach to diagnosis, possible triggers and treatment options.

RESULTS

Fifty-one children (26 girls, age 9.5±3.1y) from a total of 3,793 new referrals for chronic cough fulfilled the criteria of THC (1.34%). Incidence rates per 1,000 person-years were 1.34 (95%CI=0.34-5.40), 3.91 (95%CI=1.86-8.19), 4.03 (95%CI=2.01-8.06) and 14.60 (95%CI=10.43-20.44) for every two years. Poisson analysis showed an increased trend during the four time periods with an incidence rate ratio equal to 2.21 (95%CI=1.58-3.09, p<0.001). THC was mainly attributed to learning difficulties, as well as stress-related impact of peer or family bullying, family financial problems and child anxiety disorders.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of THC is associated with the negative aspects of stressors during a period of financial crisis. The potential underlining psycho-physiological mechanisms are discussed as well as the fact that prompt diagnosis may result in successful interventions.

Bullying in Primary School Children: The Relationship between Victimization and Perception of Being a Victim

This study aims to investigate victimization of bullying in primary school children, as well as its relationship with children’s perception of being a victim. In a sample of 4646 students from 3rd to 6th grade, we evaluated children’s victimization and cybervictimization behaviors, and children were also asked whether they had been victims of bullying or cyberbullying. From the participants, 36.7% were victims, and 4.4% cybervictims. In addition, 24.2% had a perception of being a victim, and 4.9% a perception of being a cybervictim. On the other hand, 56.9% of victims of traditional bullying had no perception of being a victim. The victimization behaviors of traditional bullying associated with a higher perception of being a victim were threats, while physical and direct verbal aggression implied a lower perception of being a victim. The results suggest the most frequent victimization behaviors may be normalized.

Risk and Protective Factors for Bullying at 11 Years of Age in a Spanish Birth Cohort Study

(1) Background: Bullying affects a large number of children worldwide. This study has two objectives, to provide data on the prevalence of bullying in Spain, and to identify risk and protective factors associated with bullying. (2) Methods: Participants were 858 eleven-year-old children. Bullying was assessed using a short version of the Olweus Bully Victim Questionnaire, and the following data were gathered to explore potential predictors: individual (inattention, behavior problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptomatology, traumatic life events), family-related (sociodemographic characteristics, family context, child-parent relations), school-related (school characteristics, peer and social support, school environment) and community-related data. (3) Results: 9.3% of the children were victims, 1.4% bullies and 1.6% bully-victims. Results showed that a higher level of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptomatology increased the risk of victimization, whereas having better relationships with parents and stronger social support were associated with a lower risk of victimization. Children having strong peer relationships and social support was also associated with less risk of perpetrating bullying. Finally, having behavior problems at 8 years of age was associated with being a bully-victim. (4) Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of studying all bullying predictors together, regarding three of the roles children may take in bullying situations.

The Effects of Family Functioning and Psychological Suzhi Between School Climate and Problem Behaviors

Problem behaviors have always been a hot topic in the field of adolescent research. It is particularly important to study how problem behaviors are developed. Empirical evidence examining problem behaviors has shared the premise that perceived school climate and family functioning play a role in the development of problem behaviors in adolescents. However, it is less clear whether the interaction of perceived school climate and family functioning can predict problem behaviors in adolescents and which mechanisms within the process it might affect. The present study developed a moderated mediation model to investigate the relationship between perceived school climate, family functioning, psychological suzhi, and problem behaviors in early adolescents. Participants were 1,072 Chinese junior high school students who completed the Perceived School Climate Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Psychological Suzhi Questionnaire for Middle School Students, and the Family APGAR scales. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22.0, including descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The mediating effect and moderating effect were tested by SPSS PROCESS. Results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between perceived school climate and problem behaviors and a partial mediating role of psychological suzhi between perceived school climate and problem behaviors. Moreover, the influence of perceived school climate on psychological suzhi was moderated by family functioning. Indirect effects were significant in participants with high versus low family functioning. There was an interaction between family and school, and psychological suzhi played an important role between environment and adolescent behaviors. This study validates the combined effect of family systems, school systems, and personal systems on problem behaviors and has certain guiding significance for the prevention and intervention of problem behaviors among adolescents.

Influence of Personality Traits and Its Interaction with the Phenomenon of Bullying: Multi-Centre Descriptive Study

Bullying affects thousands of teenagers worldwide and has devastating consequences. Various studies suggest that the personality of teenagers is a risk profile for bullying. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the personality of teenagers aged 14 to 16 years from three education centres located in the province of Seville (Spain) and bullying in any of its victim or aggressor roles. A multi-centre cross-sectional observational descriptive study was conducted in three education centres in the province of Seville (Spain). The sample consisted of 93 students. In order to measure the two main variables, the Bull-S test was used for bullying, and the EPQ-J questionnaire was used for personality traits. A descriptive and correlation analysis was performed between variables. The results showed that 14% (n = 13) of the sample were detected as victims and another 14% (n = 13) were detected as aggressors. Statistically significant differences were found between neuroticism (p = 0.044; Phi = 0.615), sincerity (p = 0.016; V de Cramer = 0.474), and anti-social behaviour (p = 0.007; Phi = 0.620) with the variables victim/aggressor. Bullies are typically males who score high on neuroticism and anti-social behaviour, with a tendency towards social dissimulation.