title: Socioeconomic inequality in exposure to bullying during adolescence: a comparative, cross-sectional, multilevel study in 35 countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 162,305 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. pdu@niph.dk
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Due
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.forename: Yossi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harel-Fisch
authors.forename: Mogens Trab
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Damsgaard
authors.forename: Bjørn E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Holstein
authors.forename: Jørn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hetland
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Saoirse Nic
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gabhainn
authors.forename: Margarida Gaspar
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: de Matos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty; D011287:Prejudice; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*