Physical and verbal/emotional abuse of schoolchildren, Lebanon, 2009

Abstract

The extent of physical and verbal/emotional abuse in schools in Lebanon is currently unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of both forms of abuse among a nationally representative sample of Lebanese schoolchildren, aged 10-18 years, using a self-reported questionnaire. A total of 1177 schoolchildren, 49.6% females, median age 14 years, completed the survey; 76.4% and 81.2% of these had experienced physical and verbal/emotional abuse respectively at least once at school. Male students [adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 3.4, P < 0.01], children in public schools (AOR = 1.9, P < 0.01) and in South Lebanon (AOR = 2.2, P < 0.01) and Bekaa (AOR = 1.7, P < 0.05) regions were more likely to have experienced physical abuse than females, children from private schools and from Beirut. Male students (AOR = 1.3, P < 0.01) and children in public schools (AOR = 1.6, P < 0.01) were also more likely to experience verbal abuse, with no regional differences. The prevalence of physical and verbal/emotional abuse in schools in Lebanon is high and solutions should be sought to correct the problem engaging political and social leaders, the mass media, law enforcement agencies, parents and educators. RÉSUMÉ L'importance de la violence physique et psychologique/verbale dans les écoles au Liban n'est pas connue. La présente étude transversale visait à déterminer la prévalence et les caractéristiques des deux formes de violence dans un échantillon d'élèves libanais âgés de 10 à 18 ans représentatifs au niveau national, à l'aide d'un questionnaire direct. Au total, 1177 élèves, dont 49,6 % de filles, âgés en moyenne de 14 ans, ont rempli le questionnaire ; 76,4 % et 81,2 % d'entre eux avaient été exposés à la violence physique et psychologique/verbale respectivement au moins une fois à l'école. Les élèves de sexe masculin (OR ajusté = 3,4 ; P < 0,01), les élèves des écoles publiques (OR ajusté = 1,9 ; P < 0,01), du sud du Liban (OR ajusté = 2,2 ; P < 0,01), et de la vallée de Bekaa (OR ajusté = 1,7 ; P < 0,05), étaient plus à risque d'avoir été exposés à la violence physique que les élèves de sexe féminin, les enfants des écoles privés et de Beyrouth. Les garçons (OR ajusté = 1,3 ; P < 0,01) et les élèves des écoles publiques (OR ajusté = 1,6 ; P < 0,01) étaient aussi plus à risque d'exposition à la violence verbale, sans différence entre les régions. La prévalence de la violence physique et psychologique/verbale chez les élèves au Liban est élevée et des solutions doivent être recherchées pour corriger le problème dont la responsabilité doit être partagée entre les dirigeants politiques et sociaux, les médias, les forces de l'ordre, les parents et les éducateurs.

Trends of alcohol use, dietary behaviour, interpersonal violence, mental health, oral and hand hygiene behaviour among adolescents in Lebanon: cross-sectional national school surveys from 2005, 2011 and 2017

“…Violence-related behaviour (being bullied, physically attacked and participation in a physical ght) decreased in this study, which concurs with four other studies [14,[24][25][26], while a few studies found an increase in one or more types of interpersonal violence, e.g., in Oman [16], the Philippines [15] and Venezuela [27]. In several older studies among adolescents in Lebanon, high rates of interpersonal violence have been reported [5][6][7], which compares with our high rates of interpersonal violence in the 2005 GSHS. It is possible that the high rates of interpersonal violence in 2005 were still related to the post-con ict situation in Lebanon, which subsequently subsided so that interpersonal violence decreased from 2005 to 2017.…”

“…In a national sample of adolescents in Lebanon in 2009, "76.4% and 81.2% of these had experienced physical and verbal/emotional abuse respectively at least once at school." [6], and in an investigation in 1028 Lebanese children (8-17 years), "54% reported at least one incident of physical abuse over a 1-year period" [7], and 30% were involved in bullying [8].…”

Experience of gender-based violence to students in public and private secondary schools in Ilorin, Nigeria

“…1,2,5 This experience of violence was also common among school pupils in South Africa and Lebanon. [18][19][20] The high levels of violence in schools may be a reflection of the rising incidence of violence in the society as a whole.…”

“…Similarly, other studies have found psychological violence to be commonest form of violence to students because its perpetration may be subtle and hidden from others. 9,18 Some students had experienced the different types of violence concurrently. Researchers have observed that physical violence is often accompanied by psychological abuse, and in one third to over one half of cases by sexual abuse as well.…”

Trends of Alcohol Use, Dietary Behaviour, Interpersonal Violence, Mental Health, Oral and Hand Hygiene Behaviour among Adolescents in Lebanon: Cross-Sectional National School Surveys from 2005, 2011 and 2017

“…In terms of interpersonal violence, a high prevalence of involvement in physical fight (almost 42%) were found among school adolescents in Beirut, Lebanon [ 10 ]. In a national sample of adolescents in Lebanon in 2009, 76.4% had experienced physical abuse at school [ 11 ], and in a study in 8- to 17-year-old Lebanese children, 54% reported past year physical abuse [ 12 ], and 30% were involved in bullying [ 13 ]. In a household survey in 2015 in Lebanon, 57% of Lebanese and 65% of Syrian children had been exposed to some type of violent discipline [ 2 ].…”