Concurrence of Health Risk Behaviors and the Protective Role of Self-Compassion Among University Students with Bullying Victimization in China

This study examined the association between self-compassion and the concurrence of health risk behaviors (alcohol use, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and sleep problems) among university students who had bullying victimization experiences.

We used the data drawn from a census conducted among 63 universities in Jilin Province, China. A total of 6,675 students were selected based on their reported experiences of bullying victimization. To assess the concurrence of health risk behaviors, the study measured alcohol use, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and sleep problems, and calculated the concurrence index. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to explore the association between self-compassion and concurrence index of health risk behaviors.

The mean age of the sample was 19.55 years (SD = 1.71), and 55.10% were females. The prevalence of having a single health risk behavior and having concurrence of 2, 3, and 4 types of health risk behaviors were 31.80%, 44.80%, 15.20% and 3.60%, respectively. A higher level of self-compassion was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of engaging in a single health risk behavior (aOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.97), and concurrence of 2 (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.91), 3 (aOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.78), and 4 types of health risk behaviors (aOR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.79).

The study implied that Chinese university students who had bullying victimization experiences were vulnerable to multiple health risk behaviors. Behavioral interventions are warranted for this specific population and should incorporate effective components of enhancing personal self-compassion.

This study is not preregistered.