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Socioeconomic Inequality in Exposure to Bullying During Adolescence: A Comparative, Cross-Sectional, Multilevel Study in 35 Countries

Due, Pernille ; Merlo, Juan LU orcid ; Harel-Fisch, Yossi ; Damsgaard, Mogens Trab ; Holstein, Bjorn E. ; Hetland, Jorn ; Currie, Candace ; Gabhainn, Saoirse Nic ; de Matos, Margarida Gaspar and Lynch, John (2009) In American Journal of Public Health 99(5). p.907-914
Abstract
Objectives. We examined the socioeconomic distribution of adolescent exposure to bullying internationally and documented the contribution of the macroeconomic environment. Methods. We used an international survey of 162305 students aged 11, 13, and 15 years from nationally representative samples of 5998 schools in 35 countries in Europe and North America for the 2001-2002 school year. The survey used standardized measures of exposure to bullying and socioeconomic affluence. Results. Adolescents from families of low affluence reported higher prevalence of being victims of bullying (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10, 1.16). International differences in prevalence of exposure to bullying were not associated with the... (More)
Objectives. We examined the socioeconomic distribution of adolescent exposure to bullying internationally and documented the contribution of the macroeconomic environment. Methods. We used an international survey of 162305 students aged 11, 13, and 15 years from nationally representative samples of 5998 schools in 35 countries in Europe and North America for the 2001-2002 school year. The survey used standardized measures of exposure to bullying and socioeconomic affluence. Results. Adolescents from families of low affluence reported higher prevalence of being victims of bullying (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10, 1.16). International differences in prevalence of exposure to bullying were not associated with the economic level of the country (as measured by gross national income) or the school, but wide disparities in affluence at a school and large economic inequality (as measured by the Gini coefficient) at the national level were associated with an increased prevalence of exposure to bullying. Conclusions. There is socioeconomic inequality in exposure to bullying among adolescents, leaving children of greater socioeconomic disadvantage at higher risk of victimization. Adolescents who attend schools and live in countries where socioeconomic differences are larger are at higher risk of being bullied. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99:907-914. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.139303) (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
American Journal of Public Health
volume
99
issue
5
pages
907 - 914
publisher
Amer Public Health Assoc Inc
external identifiers
  • wos:000265808800026
  • scopus:68249108999
ISSN
1541-0048
DOI
10.2105/AJPH.2008.139303
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dc1fa35c-b833-40d9-99a8-3061d3f68df8 (old id 1426474)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:25:55
date last changed
2022-04-05 22:16:49
@article{dc1fa35c-b833-40d9-99a8-3061d3f68df8,
  abstract     = {{Objectives. We examined the socioeconomic distribution of adolescent exposure to bullying internationally and documented the contribution of the macroeconomic environment. Methods. We used an international survey of 162305 students aged 11, 13, and 15 years from nationally representative samples of 5998 schools in 35 countries in Europe and North America for the 2001-2002 school year. The survey used standardized measures of exposure to bullying and socioeconomic affluence. Results. Adolescents from families of low affluence reported higher prevalence of being victims of bullying (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10, 1.16). International differences in prevalence of exposure to bullying were not associated with the economic level of the country (as measured by gross national income) or the school, but wide disparities in affluence at a school and large economic inequality (as measured by the Gini coefficient) at the national level were associated with an increased prevalence of exposure to bullying. Conclusions. There is socioeconomic inequality in exposure to bullying among adolescents, leaving children of greater socioeconomic disadvantage at higher risk of victimization. Adolescents who attend schools and live in countries where socioeconomic differences are larger are at higher risk of being bullied. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99:907-914. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.139303)}},
  author       = {{Due, Pernille and Merlo, Juan and Harel-Fisch, Yossi and Damsgaard, Mogens Trab and Holstein, Bjorn E. and Hetland, Jorn and Currie, Candace and Gabhainn, Saoirse Nic and de Matos, Margarida Gaspar and Lynch, John}},
  issn         = {{1541-0048}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{907--914}},
  publisher    = {{Amer Public Health Assoc Inc}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Public Health}},
  title        = {{Socioeconomic Inequality in Exposure to Bullying During Adolescence: A Comparative, Cross-Sectional, Multilevel Study in 35 Countries}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.139303}},
  doi          = {{10.2105/AJPH.2008.139303}},
  volume       = {{99}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}