@article{ref1,
title="Income inequality and socioeconomic differences in bullying perpetration among adolescents in post-communist countries of Europe: findings from the HBSC study",
journal="Preventive medicine reports",
year="2024",
author="Albert Torchyan, Armen and Houkes, Inge and Bosma, Hans",
volume="37",
number="",
pages="e102540-e102540",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Adolescent bullying is a major public health concern in post-Communist countries of Europe (PCCE). We studied the impact of income inequality on the prevalence of and socioeconomic differences in bullying perpetration. <br><br>METHODS: Nationally representative samples of adolescents aged 11-15 years from 14 PCCE participating in the Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey during 2017-18 years were included. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, 71,119 adolescents participated in the survey. About 27.7 % of country differences in bullying perpetration were attributable to high income inequality. Adolescents with low and high family socioeconomic status (SES) had a 10-15 % greater risk (P < 0.05) of bullying perpetration compared to middle-SES adolescents. In cross-level interaction, the risk of bullying perpetration was the highest among high-SES adolescents from countries with wider income inequality (P-interaction = 0.003). The odds ratios of bullying perpetration comparing high- vs. low-SES adolescents ranged from 0.67 in the least unequal to 1.59 in the most unequal countries. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that high income inequality might contribute to school bullying among adolescents in PCCE, particularly those from high-SES families. The necessary political and economic interventions should focus on improving the country socioeconomic environment in PCCE. Moving towards less neoliberal policies and creating a strong welfare state that promotes the population's economic and social well-being and reduces income inequality might be a necessary component of macro-level strategies aimed at preventing bullying among adolescents. Targeted public health interventions might be required for high-SES adolescents in countries with wide income inequality.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2211-3355",
doi="10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102540",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102540"
}