Bullying among adolescents in a sub-Saharan middle-income setting.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored factors associated with self-reported bullying among adolescents in a sub-Saharan country.


METHODS
A cross-sectional sample of adolescents (n = 1,427) in the Seychelles was drawn from the Global School-based Student Health Survey. Bullied adolescents were compared with non-bullied adolescents with respect to several sociodemographic factors. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Within a 30 day period, 38.8% of adolescents reported being bullied. Bullied youths were more likely to be depressed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.63; confidence intervals [CI] = 1.27-1.07) and socially deprived (aOR = 1.85; CI = 1.30-2.61). Being older (aOR = .83; CI = .77-.90) and having close friends (aOR = .53; CI = .31-.91) were protective factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of bullying in the Seychelles is high, and social correlates are similar to those in industrialized settings. More research is needed to examine bullying patterns outside the school environment.
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
Michael L
ML
Wilson
Pascal
P
Bovet
Bharathi
B
Viswanathan
Joan-Carles
JC
Suris
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D058445:Bullying; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D012750:Seychelles / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class