Gaceta Sanitaria

Gaceta Sanitaria

Volume 27, Issue 4, July–August 2013, Pages 350-354
Gaceta Sanitaria

Original breve
Bullying among schoolchildren: Differences between victims and aggressorsAcoso escolar en jóvenes escolarizados: diferencias entre víctimas y agresores

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2012.12.012Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

Objective

To identify the factors associated with bullying behaviors among adolescents by analyzing victims, aggressors and victims/aggressors separately.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed in a representative sample of 3,089 secondary school students (13-18 years old) in Barcelona (Spain). To define bullying behaviors, we used three questions about different types of mistreatment (jeering, attacking, marginalizing).

Results

Compared with secondary school students not involved in bullying, victims, aggressors and victims/aggressors were more likely to be boys and to report negative mood states. Victims were younger, were more overweight or obese and were lighter cannabis users, while aggressors were also younger but reported more antisocial behaviors and more cannabis and alcohol use. Victims/aggressors reported more antisocial behaviors and were overweight.

Conclusions

Being involved in bullying, independently of the role adopted, was associated with health-related problems, which can lead to psychological disorders in adulthood.

Resumen

Objetivo

Identificar los factores asociados al acoso escolar entre adolescentes escolarizados, analizando víctimas, agresores y víctimas/agresores por separado.

Métodos

Estudio transversal en una muestra representativa de 3089 estudiantes de escuelas de secundaria (13-18 años) de Barcelona. Los roles de acoso escolar se definieron a partir de tres ítems sobre diferentes tipos de maltrato (insultos, agresión física y marginación social).

Resultados

Los escolares involucrados en acoso escolar tenían mayor probabilidad de ser chicos y presentar un estado de ánimo negativo con respecto a los no involucrados. Además, las víctimas eran más jóvenes, presentaban más sobrepeso u obesidad, y consumían menos cannabis, mientras que los agresores también eran más jóvenes pero declaraban realizar conductas antisociales en mayor medida, y un mayor consumo de cannabis y alcohol. Las víctimas/agresores realizaban más conductas antisociales y presentaban sobrepeso.

Conclusiones

Estar involucrado en acoso escolar, con independencia del rol, se asoció a problemas relacionados con la salud, que podrían llegar a derivar en trastornos psicológicos en la edad adulta.

Keywords

Child and adolescent health
Bullying
Mental health
Overweight
Substance use

Palabras clave

Salud adolescente
Acoso escolar
Salud mental
Sobrepeso
Consumo de sustancias

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Dr. Manel Nebot died in October 18, 2012. This work would not have been possible without his convincement, perseverance and dedication.