Prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with the school bullying victimization in elementary students from socially vulnerable areas in a Brazilian Capital
1
Health Sciences Center, Ceara State University, Fortaleza, Brazil
2
Sports Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2511
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
School bullying is a multifactorial phenomenon that affects students, particularly in contexts marked by social inequalities1,2. This study aimed to verify the prevalence and sociodemographic variables associated with school bullying victimization among elementary students from vulnerable areas of a Brazilian capital.
METHODS:
Cross-sectional study conducted with 6th and 7th grade students from 33 full-time municipal elementary schools in Fortaleza, Ceará - Brazil, from neighborhoods with very low Human Development Index (ranging from 0.135 to 0.491). Data were collected using questions from the National School Health Survey3. The dependent variables were bullying victimization in the last 30 days (yes/no) and reasons (religion, region of origin, skin color, body/face appearance, sexual orientation, or other). Independent variables included sex (boys and girls), age (<11 or >12 years), skin color (black/brown or others), and the head of the family’s education level (incomplete or complete basic education). Associations were analyzed using adjusted logistic regression, with p<0.05.
RESULTS:
A total of 1,099 students participated (53.8% girls; 52% >12 years; 65% black or brown; and 13.4% whose head of the family had completed basic education). A total of 65.2% reported experiencing bullying victimization. Among them, 61.9% reported two or more reasons, mainly appearance (89.3%), skin color (51.4%), and sexual orientation (51.3%). Age was associated with general school bullying victimization, indicating higher prevalence among older students in comparison to <11 years of age (p=0.002). All but appearance were reasons associated with age, with older students being the most affected. Appearance was associated only with sex (higher in girls, p=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Elevated prevalence of in-school bullying victimization was observed, highlighting the need for prevention strategies specifically targeted at girls and older students in socially vulnerable school settings.
School bullying is a multifactorial phenomenon that affects students, particularly in contexts marked by social inequalities1,2. This study aimed to verify the prevalence and sociodemographic variables associated with school bullying victimization among elementary students from vulnerable areas of a Brazilian capital.
METHODS:
Cross-sectional study conducted with 6th and 7th grade students from 33 full-time municipal elementary schools in Fortaleza, Ceará - Brazil, from neighborhoods with very low Human Development Index (ranging from 0.135 to 0.491). Data were collected using questions from the National School Health Survey3. The dependent variables were bullying victimization in the last 30 days (yes/no) and reasons (religion, region of origin, skin color, body/face appearance, sexual orientation, or other). Independent variables included sex (boys and girls), age (<11 or >12 years), skin color (black/brown or others), and the head of the family’s education level (incomplete or complete basic education). Associations were analyzed using adjusted logistic regression, with p<0.05.
RESULTS:
A total of 1,099 students participated (53.8% girls; 52% >12 years; 65% black or brown; and 13.4% whose head of the family had completed basic education). A total of 65.2% reported experiencing bullying victimization. Among them, 61.9% reported two or more reasons, mainly appearance (89.3%), skin color (51.4%), and sexual orientation (51.3%). Age was associated with general school bullying victimization, indicating higher prevalence among older students in comparison to <11 years of age (p=0.002). All but appearance were reasons associated with age, with older students being the most affected. Appearance was associated only with sex (higher in girls, p=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Elevated prevalence of in-school bullying victimization was observed, highlighting the need for prevention strategies specifically targeted at girls and older students in socially vulnerable school settings.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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