Cross-national Consistency in the Relationship Between Bullying Behaviors and Psychosocial Adjustment

TLDR

Bullying is a critical issue for the health of youth internationally. The study aimed to determine whether the relationship between bullying and psychosocial adjustment is consistent across countries using standardized measures and methods. The authors conducted cross‑sectional self‑report surveys of 113,200 students aged 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 from nationally representative samples in 25 countries, assessing bullying involvement (bully, victim, or both) and psychosocial adjustment across health problems, emotional and social adjustment, school adjustment, peer relationships, alcohol use, and weapon carrying, with bullying prevalence ranging from 9% to 54%. Across 25 countries, bullying involvement—whether as bully, victim, or both—consistently predicts poorer psychosocial adjustment, with bullies, victims, and bully‑victims reporting more health problems, emotional and social difficulties, poorer peer relationships, and higher alcohol use and weapon carrying, and these associations are remarkably similar across nations.

Abstract

To determine whether the relationship between bullying and psychosocial adjustment is consistent across countries by standard measures and methods.Cross-sectional self-report surveys were obtained from nationally representative samples of students in 25 countries. Involvement in bullying, as bully, victim, or both bully and victim, was assessed.Surveys were conducted at public and private schools throughout the participating countries.Participants included all consenting students in sampled classrooms, for a total of 113 200 students at average ages of 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 years.Psychosocial adjustment dimensions assessed included health problems, emotional adjustment, school adjustment, relationships with classmates, alcohol use, and weapon carrying.Involvement in bullying varied dramatically across countries, ranging from 9% to 54% of youth. However, across all countries, involvement in bullying was associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment (P<.05). In all or nearly all countries, bullies, victims, and bully-victims reported greater health problems and poorer emotional and social adjustment. Victims and bully-victims consistently reported poorer relationships with classmates, whereas bullies and bully-victims reported greater alcohol use and weapon carrying.The association of bullying with poorer psychosocial adjustment is remarkably similar across countries. Bullying is a critical issue for the health of youth internationally.