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. 2025 Feb 10:28:e250003.
doi: 10.1590/1980-549720250003. eCollection 2025.

Bullying practices by students aged 13 to 17 years according to the National Survey of School Health (2019)

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Deborah Carvalho Malta  1 , Juliana Bottoni de Souza  2 , Évelin Angélica Herculano de Morais  2 , Flora Vitória Serena Oliveira Baldi  2 , Flávia Carvalho Malta de Mello  3 , Alexandra Dias Moreira  2 , Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira  4
Affiliations

Bullying practices by students aged 13 to 17 years according to the National Survey of School Health (2019)

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Deborah Carvalho Malta et al. Rev Bras Epidemiol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of bullying practices and associated factors among Brazilian adolescents, according to the National Survey of School Health 2019.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with cluster sampling. The outcome variable, bullying practice, was assessed by the question: "In the last 30 days, have you mocked, ridiculed, teased, intimidated, or bullied any of your schoolmates to the point that they felt hurt, upset, offended, or humiliated?" (yes/no). Associations with sociodemographic characteristics, family environment, mental health, and risk behaviors were analyzed using Poisson regression with robust variance.

Results: 12.1% (95%CI 11.7-12.6) of adolescents reported bullying others. Positive associations were found among boys (PR 1.66; 95%CI 1.55-1.77); self-declared Black (PR 1.23; 95%CI 1.11-1.36) and brown (PR 1.1; 95%CI 1.02-1.18) adolescents; private school students (PR 1.29; 95%CI 1.21-1.37); those who felt lonely (PR 1.17; 95%CI 1.09-1.26); thought life was not worth living (PR 1.28; 95%CI 1.19-1.39); were physically assaulted by a family member (PR 1.67; 95%CI 1.55-1.79); skipped classes (PR 1.23; 95%CI 1.15-1.31); used tobacco (PR 1.34; 95%CI 1.22-1.47), alcohol (PR 1.38; 95%CI 1.28-1.50), and drugs (PR 1.17; 95%CI 1.04-1.31) regularly; and had sexual relations (PR 1.26; 95%CI 1.18-1.35). Ages 16 and 17 (PR 0.82; 95%CI 0.76-0.89) and family supervision were protective factors (PR 0.70; 95%CI 0.66-0.75).

Conclusion: Bullying was more likely among boys, younger adolescents, those with family and mental health issues, and those engaged in risk behaviors. The importance of practices, such as family supervision in preventing bullying, is highlighted.

Objetivo:: Analisar a prevalência de prática de bullying e fatores associados entre adolescentes brasileiros, segundo a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar 2019.

Métodos:: Estudo transversal, com amostragem por conglomerados. A variável desfecho, prática de bullying, foi obtida pela pergunta "Nos últimos 30 dias, você esculachou, zombou, mangou, intimidou ou caçoou algum de seus colegas da escola tanto que ele ficou magoado, aborrecido, ofendido ou humilhado?" (sim/não). Foram analisadas associações com características sociodemográficas, familiares, saúde mental e comportamentos de risco, utilizando regressão de Poisson com variância robusta.

Resultados:: 12,1% (IC95% 11,7-12,6) dos adolescentes relataram praticar bullying. Houve associação positiva entre meninos (RP 1,66; IC95% 1,55-1,77); autodeclarados pretos (RP 1,23; IC95% 1,11-1,36) e pardos (RP 1,1; IC95% 1,02-1,18); de escola privada (RP 1,29; IC95% 1,21-1,37), que sentiam-se solitários (RP 1,17; IC95% 1,09-1,26), que a vida não vale a pena (RP 1,28; IC95% 1,19-1,39), apanharam de familiar (RP 1,67; IC95% 1,55-1,79), faltaram às aulas (RP 1,23; IC95% 1,15-1,31), usavam tabaco (RP 1,34; IC95% 1,22-1,47), álcool (RP 1,38; IC95% 1,28-1,50) e drogas regularmente (RP 1,17; IC95% 1,04-1,31) e tiveram relação sexual (RP 1,26; IC95% 1,18-1,35). A idade 16 e 17 anos (RP 0,82; IC95% 0,76-0,89) e supervisão familiar foram protetoras (RP 0,70; IC95% 0,66-0,75).

Conclusão:: Praticar bullying foi mais provável entre meninos, mais jovens, com problemas familiares e de saúde mental, e comportamentos de risco. Observa-se a importância de práticas como supervisão familiar contra o bullying.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS: nothing to declare

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