[School bullying and its association with health and lifestyle among schoolchildren].
The purpose of the study was to assess the association of bullying and being bullied with indicators of subjective health and problem behaviors among schoolchildren aged 11-15 years.


METHODS
The data of the anonymous survey of 5645 filth-, seventh-, and ninth-grade students (aged 11, 13, and 15 years, respectively), conducted in the spring of 2002, were analyzed. The students completed the World Health Organization's Health Behavior in School-aged Children questionnaire that included self-report of involvement in bullying and being bullied by others as well as subjective health and well-being estimates, health complains (headache, stomachache, back pain, anxiety, etc.), and problem behaviors (smoking, alcohol and drug use, suicidal ideation). The response rate was 95%.


RESULTS
More than half (52.3%) of students were involved in bullying process at least two times per month: 17.9% were involved as bullies ("victims"), 18.3% were bullied ("aggressors"), and 16.1% bullied others and were bullied themselves. A significant association between experiencing bullying and adverse health outcomes was found. Perpetrating bullying increased the odds of smoking, alcohol and drug use. Perpetrating and/or experiencing bullying increased the risk of high suicidal ideation that had cumulative effect. The established associations varied between genders and groups of students defined as "victims," "aggressors," and "victims/aggressors."


CONCLUSIONS
In Lithuania, school bullying is extremely prevalent and is associated with health disorders, poorer well-being, and problem behavior of schoolchildren. Urgent antibullying efforts, including both research and preventive measures, are needed in order to deal with this social phenomenon.
Zaborskis
Apolinaras
A
Kauno medicinos universiteto Biomedicininiu tyrimu institutas. socped@kmu.lt
Vareikiene
Inga
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization