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. 2023 Dec;93(12):1111-1118.
doi: 10.1111/josh.13354. Epub 2023 Jun 13.

Bullying Victimization and Associations With Substance Use Among US Middle School Students: 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Colleen Barbero  1 , Kevin J Vagi  1 , Heather Clayton  1 , Kristin Holland  2 , Marci Hertz  3 , Kathleen H Krause  3 , Rochelle Brittingham  4 , Stephanie Bunge  5 , Susan M Saka  6 , Nadine Marchessault  7 , Nikardi Hynes  8 , Dan Green  9 , Les Spell  10 , Karine Monteiro  11 , Kristen Murray  12 , Rosemary Reilly-Chammat  13 , Lisha Tignor  14 , Melissa C Mercado  1
Affiliations

Bullying Victimization and Associations With Substance Use Among US Middle School Students: 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Colleen Barbero et al. J Sch Health. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Research shows associations between bullying victimization and substance use for teens. However, more research about this relationship for younger adolescents and across race/ethnicity is needed.

Methods: Prevalence and pooled logistic regression analyses of 2019 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 13 states (N = 74,059 students) examined associations between self-reported bulling victimization (at school, electronically, and both) and having ever tried cigarette smoking, alcohol, or marijuana; used an electronic vapor product; or misused prescription pain medicine. Regression analyses were adjusted by age and sex/race/ethnicity.

Results: All 3 measures of bullying victimization were significantly associated (p < .05) with the 5 substance use behaviors examined (adjusted prevalence ratios ranged from 1.29 to 2.32). These associations held across sexes. Significant associations were found within all 7 race/ethnicity categories, with the most associations reported for the non-Hispanic (NH) white, NH black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, and NH Asian groups.

Conclusion: The association between bullying and substance use by middle school is a highly relevant issue to consider as students return to classrooms.

Keywords: bullying; middle school; substance use.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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