Risk Factors for Bullying in US Adolescents Aged 12-17.

This study examines risk factors associated with bullying among U.S. adolescents including social determinants of health, parental determinants, and pre-existing health conditions to inform evidence-based strategies to prevent bullying. Data for 12-17-year-old adolescents from the 2022-2023 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) was analyzed. Summary statistics, chi-squared tests, and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between bullying involvement and a variety of factors, including physical health conditions, mental and developmental health variables, caregiver influences, adverse childhood experiences, and social determinants. Bivariate analyses revealed significant associations between bullying or being bullied and caregiver mental health and social determinants. Logistic regressions highlighted that being overweight, having autoimmune disease, mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, ADHD), learning disabilities, and difficulty making friends significantly increased the odds of being bullied. These findings support the need for evidence-based, multi-level, culturally specific interventions to reduce bullying and improve adolescent well-being.