Bullying in school-aged children in Iceland : a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE: We describe the frequency and variations in bullying among a representative national sample of school-age children and examine whether sociodemographic characteristics are associated with bullying. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study is based on a cross-sectional school-based survey-the Icelandi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Main Authors: Garmy, Pernilla, Vilhjálmsson, Rúnar, Kristjánsdóttir, Guðrún
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Högskolan Kristianstad, Forskningsmiljön Children's and Young People's Health in Social Context (CYPHiSCO) 2018
Subjects:
Bullying
Cross-sectional study
School-aged children
Health Sciences
Hälsovetenskaper
Iceland
Online Access:http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-16848
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2017.05.009
Description
Summary:PURPOSE: We describe the frequency and variations in bullying among a representative national sample of school-age children and examine whether sociodemographic characteristics are associated with bullying. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study is based on a cross-sectional school-based survey-the Icelandic contribution to the international research network Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). The study population included all students in Iceland in grades 6, 8 and 10 (mean ages: 11, 13 and 15years, respectively) (participation rate: 84%; n=11,018). The students completed an anonymous standardized questionnaire administered in the classroom. RESULTS: The self-reported frequency of being victimized by bullying at least 2-3 times every month was 5.5%. A younger age, speaking a foreign language at home, not living with one's parents, and living in a rural area, were all associated with higher frequencies of being bullied. CONCLUSIONS: Despite efforts to reduce bullying in school, experiences of being victimized through bullying are still too common among Icelandic school-age children. Stakeholders and school health administrators should consider sociodemographic antecedents when planning interventions to reduce bullying at school.

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