Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China

PeerJ

article

Li Yan¹  Qianqian Zhu²  Xiaowen Tu¹  Xiayun Zuo¹  Chunyan Yu¹  Chaohua Lou¹  Qiguo Lian¹ 

[1] Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University;Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine;School of Public Health, Fudan University

关键词: School bullying;    Left-behind children;    Child sexual abuse;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.4865

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundBullying is one of the most important factors associated with child abuse. However, robust tests supporting the assumption that being bullied can contribute to child sexual abuse (CSA) among left-behind children (LBC) remain sparse. This study aims to investigate the association of bullying victimization with CSA among LBC in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in six middle schools of Sichuan and Anhui province in 2015. The bullying victimization was assessed by seven items from the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. The experience of CSA was measured by ten items CSA scale with good consistency.ResultsA total of 1,030 children met the sampling criteria, including 284 LBC and 746 non-LBC. The prevalence of CSA was 22.89% in LBC and 20.19% in non-LBC (p 0.05). Bullying victimization was related to CSA among both LBC (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.52, 95% CI [1.34–4.73]) and non-LBC (aOR = 2.35, 95% CI [1.58–3.53]). The association between bullying victimization and CSA was much higher among left-behind girls (left-behind girls: aOR = 7.36, 95% CI [2.16–24.99]; non-left-behind girls: aOR = 2.38, 95% CI [1.08–5.27]). Also, LBC of a young age (11–15), children with siblings, living in rural areas and non-traditional family structure who were bullied were more likely to suffer CSA than their non-LBC peers.ConclusionsBullying victimization is associated with a significant increase in CSA among both LBC and non-LBC. Anti-bullying programs should target vulnerable populations including female LBC and LBC with siblings to reduce the risk of CSA.

【 授权许可】

CC BY