Associations between the practice of bullying and individual and contextual variables from the aggressors' perspective.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of bullying among Brazilian students from the aggressor's perspective and to analyze its association with individual and contextual variables.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional population-based study carried out with data from the National Survey on Student Health. A total of 109,104 students attending eight grade in public and private schools were included. Data were collected through a self-applied questionnaire. A model of association between bullying and variables in the following domains was tested: sociodemographics, risk behaviors, mental health, and family context. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of aggressors in bullying situations was 20.8%. The following variables remained associated in the final multivariate model: male gender (OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.79-1.94), lower participation of 16-year-old students (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.53-0.82), and students from private schools (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.27-1.39). Most aggressors reported feeling lonely (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16-1.28), insomnia episodes (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.14-1.29), and a high prevalence of physical violence in the family (OR: 1.97 95% CI: 1.87-2.08). Aggressors missed classes more frequently (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.40-1.51), and they regularly consumed more tobacco (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.12-1.31), alcohol (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.77-1.92), and illegal drugs (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.79-2.04); they also demonstrated increased sexual intercourse (OR: 1.49 95% CI: 1.43-1.55) and regular exercise (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.16-1.25).

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate that bullying is an important aspect that affects the learning-teaching process and the students' health.