The association between chronic bullying victimization with weight status and body self-image: a cross-national study in 39 countries

PeerJ

article

Qiguo Lian¹  Qiru Su³  Ruili Li⁴  Frank J. Elgar⁵  Zhihao Liu⁶  Dongpeng Zheng⁷ 

[1] Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University;School of Public Health, Fudan University;National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention;Children Health and Development Department, Capital Institute of Pediatrics;Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University;Institute for Health Education, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention;Huajing Community Health Service Center

关键词: HBSC;    School bullying;    Underweight;    Overweight;    Obesity;    Self-image;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.4330

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background Childhood obesity and school bullying are pervasive public health issues and known to co-occur in adolescents. However, the association between underweight or thinness and chronic bullying victimization is unclear. The current study examined whether chronic bullying victimization is associated with weight status and body self-image. Methods A school-based, cross-sectional study in 39 North American and European countries and regions was conducted. A total of 213,595 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 years were surveyed in 2009/10. Chronic bullying victimization was identified using the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Weight status was determined using self-reported height and weight and the body mass index (BMI), and body self-image was based on perceived weight. We tested associations between underweight and bullying victimization using three-level logistic regression models. Results Of the 213,595 adolescents investigated, 11.28% adolescents reported chronic bullying victimization, 14.80% were classified as overweight/obese according to age- and sex-specific BMI criteria, 12.97% were underweight, and 28.36% considered themselves a little bit fat or too fat, 14.57% were too thin. Bullying victimization was less common in older adolescent boys and girls. Weight status was associated with chronic bullying victimization (adjusted ORunderweight = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.05–1.16, p = 0.002; adjusted ORoverweight = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.32–1.49, p < 0.0001; adjusted ORobese = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.71–2.14, p < 0.0001). Body self-image also related to chronic bullying victimization (adjusted ORtoo thin = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.36–1.49, p < 0.0001; adjusted ORa little bit fat = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.48–1.61, p < 0.0001; adjusted ORtoo fat = 3.30, 95% CI = 2.96–3.68, p < 0.0001). Conclusion Both perceived weight and self-rated overweight are associated with chronic bullying victimization. Both overweight and underweight children are at risk of being chronically bullied.

【 授权许可】

CC BY