Citation

Yokoji K, Hammami N, Elgar FJ. J. Sch. Health 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/josh.13300

PMID

36843441

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bullying and poverty are each associated with poor health in adolescents. We examined socioeconomic differences in the association of bullying and health.

METHODS: The 2017/2018 Canadian Health Behaviour of School-aged Children study surveyed 21,750 youth (9-18 years). We used linear regression models to investigate interactive effects of bullying involvement (traditional and cyberbullying) and socioeconomic position (SEP) on self-reported life satisfaction, psychological symptoms, and physical symptoms.

RESULTS: Involvement in either form of bullying, as a perpetrator or a target, was associated with worse health and well-being compared to uninvolved youths. Associations of victimization via conventional bullying with low life satisfaction (b = -.33 [-.61,.05]), more psychological symptoms (b = .83 [.27, 1.38]), and more somatic symptoms (b = .56 [.14,.98]) were stronger at lower SEP.

CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic disadvantage intensifies the association between bullying victimization and poor health. The intersections of victimization and poverty pose a significant health risk to adolescents.

Language: en

Keywords

mental health; school bullying; life satisfaction; HBSC; socioeconomic inequality; socioeconomic position