@article{ref1, title="Bullying and victimisation are common in four-year-old children and are associated with somatic symptoms and conduct and peer problems", journal="Acta paediatrica", year="2016", author="Ilola, Anna-Marja and Lempinen, Lotta and Huttunen, Jukka and Ristkari, Terja and Sourander, Andre", volume="105", number="5", pages="522-528", abstract="AIM: There are few population-based studies on bullying behaviour among preschool children. The aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of bullying behaviour among four-year-old children, as reported by their parents, the prevalence of types of bullying behaviour and the associations between bullying behaviour and psychosocial factors.

METHODS: This study was based on a population-based study sample of 931 children who attended their check-up at a child health clinic at four years of age. Parents completed the questionnaire about their child's bullying behaviour and risk factors during the check-up.

RESULTS: Bullying behaviour, especially being both a bully and a victim, was a common phenomenon among four-year-old children. Being a bully or both a bully and victim were most strongly associated with conduct problems, while being a victim was associated with somatic symptoms and peer problems.

CONCLUSION: Bullying behaviour was frequently found in preschool children and associated with a wide range of other problems, which indicate that routine checking of bullying behaviour should be included in child health clinic check-ups. Bullying prevention programmes are usually targeted at school-aged children, but this study highlights the importance of focusing already on preschool children. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

", language="en", issn="0803-5253", doi="10.1111/apa.13327", url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.13327" }