%0 Journal Article
%T Relationship between childhood bullying and addictive and anti-social behaviors among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional national study
%J International journal of adolescent medicine and health
%D 2017
%A Almuneef, Maha
%A Saleheen, Hassan N.
%A ElChoueiry, Nathalie
%A Al-Eissa, Majid A.
%V ePub
%N ePub
%P ePub-ePub
%X Background Bullying is a widespread public health problem among youth with potentially far reaching negative implications. <br><br>OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of childhood bullying and its association with addictive and anti-social behaviors among adults. Subjects Adults (n = 10,156) aged ≥18 years were invited to participate. <br><br>METHODS A cross-sectional, national study utilizing Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was conducted in Saudi Arabia (SA). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for bullying in relation to the outcome. <br><br>RESULTS Participant's mean age was 34.3 ± 11.3 years and 52% were male. Thirty-nine percent of the participants reported being bullied. Significant gender differences were found in terms of prevalence of different types of bullying. Men reported higher prevalence of physical (40% vs. 33%, p < 0.01) and sexual (19% vs. 10%, p < 0.01) types of bullying. In contrast, women tend to report higher prevalence of psychological (16% vs. 9%, p < 0.01) and social (14% vs. 10%, p < 0.01) types of bullying. Bullying victims were 1.8 (95% CI 1.6-2.1) times more likely to smoke, 2.3 (95% CI 1.9-2.7) times more likely to drink alcohol, 2.9 (95% CI 2.4-3.4) times more likely to use drugs, 2.1 (95% CI 1.8-2.4) times more likely to have ever had out of wedlock sexual relations, and 2.5 (95% CI 2.1-3.0) times more likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to those who were not bullied. <br><br>CONCLUSION Childhood bullying increases the chances of risky behaviors among adults in SA. Prevention of bullying should be in the national agenda of the Ministry of Education.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Freund Publishing
%@ 0334-0139
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2017-0052