Bullying Perpetration and Victimization among Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity in a Nationally Representative Sample

Abstract

Background: Adolescents with obesity are more likely to experience bullying in comparison to their healthy weight peers. However, it is unclear whether adolescents with obesity are more likely to perpetuate bullying or be both, a bully perpetrator and a bully victim. The purpose of this analysis was to examine differences in bully perpetration, victimization, and both (perpetration and victimization) by BMI classification in a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Methods: Analyses included 31,770 adolescents, ages 10-17, from the combined 2016-2017 National Survey of Children's Health. Adolescents were grouped by BMI classification; outcome variables included bullying, difficulty making new friends, excessive arguing, depression, and behavioral conduct problems. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, race, household income, highest level of education in the household, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder assessed the odds of each outcome comparing healthy weight to adolescents with overweight and obesity. Results: Adolescents with overweight and obesity had greater odds of experiencing bullying behaviors: bully victim [odds ratio (OR) = 1.34 and 2.03] and both bully perpetrator and victim (OR = 1.37 and 2.01) (p's < 0.05), respectively, in comparison to healthy weight peers. Adolescents with overweight or obesity involved in bullying behaviors had significantly higher odds of behavioral conduct problems, depression, arguing excessively, and having difficulty making friends compared to adolescents with overweight or obesity who were neither a bully perpetrator nor victim (p's < 0.05). Conclusions: To promote overall health and well-being among adolescents with overweight and obesity, effort should be made to mitigate engagement in and/or victimization from bullying and associated behavioral or depressive symptoms.

Psychiatric comorbidity associated with weight status in 9 to 10 year old children

“…This supports prior research showing children with OW/OB display more externalizing behaviour and conduct problems, which may be linked to bullying behaviour and maladaptive coping skills for weight-related stigma and discrimination. 7,26 Lastly, the lack of association between ADHD and OW/OB is consistent with other studies showing mixed evidence for this relationship in youth. 7 Conversely, the association between underweight status and ADHD in the present sample aligns with another study that found underweight or healthy weight youth had higher rates of ADHD compared to those with OW/OB.…”

“…Of note, children with obesity were 30% more likely to have an ODD diagnosis compared to healthy weight children. This supports prior research showing children with OW/OB display more externalizing behaviour and conduct problems, which may be linked to bullying behaviour and maladaptive coping skills for weight‐related stigma and discrimination 7,26 . Lastly, the lack of association between ADHD and OW/OB is consistent with other studies showing mixed evidence for this relationship in youth 7 .…”

Associations of bullying victimisation in different frequencies and types with suicidal behaviours among school-going adolescents in low- and middle-income countries

“…Obese adolescents were more susceptible to being made fun of how their body or face looked, which is consistent with a previous study. Adolescents who were underweight and overweight or obese had significantly greater odds than their healthy-weight peers of being victims of bullying (Rupp and McCoy, 2019 ).…”

“…Boys are more likely to be bullied physically, while girls are more often bullied verbally (Craig et al ., 2009 ). Additionally, adolescents who are underweight, overweight or obese have significantly greater odds than their healthy-weight peers of being the victims of bullying (Rupp and McCoy, 2019 ).…”

Caregiver's difficulty paying child's healthcare bills and bullying victimization of adolescents with physical disabilities

“…Adolescents' difficulty making friends was measured with a single question: “Compared to other children his or her age, how much difficulty does this child have making or keeping friends?” This item has been used to measure adolescents' friendship difficulties in other studies (Hilton et al, 2019; Rupp & McCoy, 2019). The item was rated on a three‐point scale: no difficulty (1), a little difficulty (2) , and a lot of difficulties (3) .…”