Bullying among adolescents in a Brazilian urban center - "Health in Beagá" Study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the prevalence of bullying and its associated factors in Brazilian adolescents.


METHODS
Data were used from a population-based household survey conducted by the Urban Health Observatory (OSUBH) utilizing probability sampling in three stages: census tracts, residences, and individuals. The survey included 598 adolescents (14-17 years old) who responded questions on bullying, sociodemographic characteristics, health-risk behaviors, educational well-being, family structure, physical activity, markers of nutritional habits, and subjective well-being (body image, personal satisfaction, and satisfaction with their present and future life). Univariate and multivariate analysis was done using robust Poisson regression.


RESULTS
The prevalence of bullying was 26.2% (28.0% among males, 24.0% among females). The location of most bullying cases was at or on route to school (70.5%), followed by on the streets (28.5%), at home (9.8%), while practicing sports (7.3%), at parties (4.6%), at work (1.7%), and at other locations (1.6%). Reports of bullying were associated with life dissatisfaction, difficulty relating to parents, involvement in fights with peers and insecurity in the neighborhood.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of bullying among participating adolescents was found, and the school serves as the main bullying location, although other sites such as home, parties and workplace were also reported. Characteristics regarding self-perception and adolescent perceptions of their environment were also associated with bullying, thus advancing the knowledge of this type of violence, especially in urban centers of developing countries.
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
Michelle Ralil
MR
da Costa
Faculdade da Saúde e Ecologia Humana, Vespasiano, MG, BR.
César Coelho
CC
Xavier
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
Amanda Cristina de Souza
AC
Andrade
Faculdade da Saúde e Ecologia Humana, Vespasiano, MG, BR.
Fernando Augusto
FA
Proietti
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
Waleska Teixeira
WT
Caiaffa
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health