Bullying and health-related quality of life in children and adolescent Mexican students

Cien Saude Colet. 2018 Jul;23(7):2433-2441. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232018237.16392016.

Abstract

Previous studies have reported a relationship between being a victim of bullying, but no studies have been carried out with Mexican students; notwithstanding the high scores of bullying in Mexico in international rankings. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between being a victim of bullying and lower HRQoL among schoolchildren and adolescents in Mexico. This cross-sectional and correlational study involved 2225 students from 22 elementary, middle and high schools. HRQoL was assessed with the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire and bullying with the social adaptation dimension of KIDSCREEN-52. Bivariate associations were evaluated, and a multivariate logistic regression was utilized. The prevalence of victims of bullying was 17.3%. Being a victim of bullying was double the risk of having a lower HRQoL than not being a victim after adjusting for health perception, gender and age, OR 2.3 (1.7-3.1). As the Wilson and Cleary Model of Quality of Life explains, individual characteristics, such as, being a victim of bullying are associated with quality of life. Similar findings in the existing literature imply that bullying is a global phenomenon that impacts the victimized child or adolescent's life in different ways.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bullying / psychology
  • Bullying / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mexico
  • Prevalence
  • Quality of Life*
  • Schools
  • Social Adjustment
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires