School bullying and some associated factors among students aged 13 - 17 in nghean province in 2017

Nội dung text: School bullying and some associated factors among students aged 13 - 17 in nghean province in 2017

1. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH SCHOOL BULLYING AND SOME ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG STUDENTS AGED 13-17 IN NGHEAN PROVINCE IN 2017 Quynh Anh Tran1, Huong Le Vu Thuy1, Trang Pham Thi Thu1, Bac Truong Dinh2, Diem Nguyen Thi Hong2 1Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University 2Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health Our study described the prevalence of being bullied among students aged 13-17 and associated factors in this group in two districts in Nghe An Province in Vietnam in 2017. A cross-sectional study was performed with 1074 students. The study ananlyzed data from a survey about health risk behaviors and associated factors among school students. Its questionnaire was based on GSHS survey and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Students aged 13-17 in two schools, in urban and rural districts in Nghe An province, were selected for the research. There were two schools in Vinh city and two in Do Luong district. This study has identified that 16% of students reported that they were bullied during the last month. The majority of victims were bullied on 1 to 5 days over 30 days. Among bullied students, verbal bullying behaviors were more prevalent than physical behaviors (38% compared 9%). Being bullied was significant more prevalent among younger students and independent form gender. Students who reported ever having health risk behaviors including tobacco and alcohol consumption; and mental health problems were significant more likely to be bullied than those who never reported such problems. In conclusion, violence in school is becoming a persistent issue not only in Vietnam but also all over the world. Findings support that the development of prevention strategies for victims is crucial to reducing the effect of school bullying on children’s future. Key words: School bullying, school-aged students, students, violence, cyber bullying I. INTRODUCTION In recent years, the number of children Bullying is intentional and repeated experiencing violence in school setting is aggression from which children lack the increasing all over the world. Accroding to ability to protect themselves [1]. Bullying WHO, it is estimated from children’s world at school has been associated with poor data that over half of children on average academic performance, and mental health report bullying. problems including depression, anxiety, and Corresponding author: Huong Le Vu Thuy, Institute for suicidal thought [2 - 5]. Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical There have been number of studies on University school bullying worldwide. Per one review Email: lethuyhuong@hmu.edu.vn of low and middle –income countries, the Received: 06 June 2017 prevalence of bullying within individual Accepted: 16 November 2017 countries ranges from 20 to 61% in 18 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018 107
2. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH countries, and Tajikistan was the country 1074 participants involved. The following only with a prevalence of bullying of less formula was used to estimate the sample than 20% [6]. In the United State, data from size for a proportion of the population. a recent Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance 2 p(1- p) n = Z1-α/2 x 2 showed that more than one- fifth of students d are bullied on school property during 12 months [7]. The Global School-based p= 0.22 (Le Thi Hai Ha 's study) [9]; Student Health Survey (GHSH) in China = 1.96 (95%CI) and d = 0.04. found that around 32% of students were In Nghe An Province, located in the centre bullied over the past 30 days. In South East of Vietnam, some cases of school bullying Asia, the figures in Singapore revealed were reported among students in grade 6 that about a quarter of secondary school to 12 via the internet. Therefore,Vinh city, in students and one- fifth of primary school a rural district, and Do Luong district, in a students were victims of bullying [8]. urban one, were selected. In each location, Another study in Turkey showed that 22% a secondary school and high school were were victims, 9.4% were bully/victims and chosen, namely Hong Son secondary 9.2% were bullies [9]. In German, Richter school (282 participants) and Le Viet Thuan showed that 17% of boys and 10% of girls high school (274 participants), located in from 11 to 15 years old were classified as Vinh city, and Nguyen Thai Nhu secondary repeated bullying perpetrators [10]. school (270 participants) and Do Luong III Although studies on school bullying have high school (248 participants) in Do Luong been conducted in several sites in Vietnam, district. there is a lack of data on school students In secondary schools, students from who are bullied in Nghe An province. grades 7, 8 and 9 were collected. In high The aims of this study are to describe the schools students form grades, that is 10 prevalence of being bullied among students and 11 were collected. Eventually, in each aged 13 - 17 and associated factors in two grade, three or four classes were randomly districts in Nghe An Province in Vietnam in selected based on the sizes of classes and 2017 all students in chosen classes were eligible to participate. Data was collected in the II. SUBJECTS AND METHODS class setting . First, researchers explained 1. Subjects and recruitment to students the aim of the survey and how to This study used a cross-sectional complete the questionnaire. The researchers study design. By using a formula, the also expressed that participation was minimum sample size was estimated to voluntary. After that, it took 15 to 30 minutes be 412 students. To be more precise, for students to fill out questionnaire, which once multiplied with design effect and a researchers collected directly. There were sample size of at least 824 students was around 20 to 40 students in a class. determined necessary. In fact, a total of 108 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018
3. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH 2. Methods of respondents aged from 13 to 15 years Instrument and data collection old was 49.8% compared to 50.2% of those We had applied GSHS questionnaire aged 16 and 17 years old. The percentages that was made by WHO to help countries of urban and rural areas were 51.8 and measure the behavioural risk factors and 48.2 respectively. There were about 14.1% protective factors among young people of total students who reported that they do aged 13 to 17 years. It focused bullying and not have any close friends to confide in. determined current both bullying prevalence Regarding BMI, the proportions of normal (during past 30 days) and types of bullying and underweight students were at with behaviors. Mental health problems (feelings 46.4% and 49.6% respectively, while 4% of loneliness, being worried, hard focus, of students were classified as overweight/ and suicide attempt) and health risk obese behaviors (alcohol consumption, drug use, The proportion of alcohol consumption and tobacco use) were also collected. was the highest (one of three) health Data analysis risk behaviors with about 20.5% of total The data was entered into EPI and students reporting alcohol use, followed by analyzed using STATA 12.0. Descriptive 8% of participants reporting tobacco use. statistics, odds ratios with 95% CI Approximately 80% of total respondents (Confidence Interval), and Pearson Chi - reported that they had diffculty concentrating square tests were used to describe all the during the last 12 months; followed by variables. All missing or illogical data were 70% of students reporting they felt lonely excluded from the analysis during the past 12 months. In addition, more than half of students reported being 3. Ethics worried during that period. Finally, the rate In the study, all students were given the of participants who had attempt suicide was choice to participate and were assured that around 10%. their answers would remain anonymously. 2. Prevalence of being bullied among All personal identities of the respondents students aged 13-17 in Nghe An were protected. The survey was performed province in Vietnam with agreement of school leaders and the Nghe An Department of Education and The overall past 30 days prevalence Training of school bullying was 16%. The majority of students were bullied on 1 to 2 days, III. RESULTS constituting for 9.8%, followed by 2.7% 1. General description of the of participants who suffered from school participants bullying on 3 to 5 days. 1% of students The proportion of boys was lower than reported bullying for at least 6 days, and that of girls: 45.8% versus 54.2%. In term 1.4% of respondents reported being bullied of a total of 1074 participants (with the all 30 days. respondent rate is 100%), the percentage JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018 109
4. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH Table 1. Types of bullying behavior by personal characteristics of bullied students Physical Verbal Others Total Characteristics bullying bullying (%) (%) (%) Girl 3 (3.6) 30 (35.7) 51 (60.7) 84 Gender Boy 12 (13.6) 35 (39.8) 41 (46.6) 88 13 -15 9 (9) 40 (40) 51 (51) 100 Age group 16 – 17 6 (8.3) 25 (34.7) 41 (57.0) 72 Urban 7 (8.8) 36 (45.6) 36 (45.6) 79 Region Rural 8 (8.6) 29 (31.2) 56 (60.2) 93 Yes 13 (9.0) 52 (36.1) 79 (54.9) 144 Friendship No 2 (7.4) 12 (44.4) 13 (48.2) 27 18.5 to 24.99 10 (12.8) 32 (41.0) 36 (46.2) 78 BMI Under 18.5 5 (5.6) 31 (34.8) 53 (59.6) 89 Over 25 0 2 (40) 3 (60) 5 3. Associated factors to being bullied among school students Table 2. Association between personal characteristics and being bullied among school students Bullied p - value Characteristics students OR (95%CI) n % Girl 84 14.5 1.0 Gender Boy 88 17.9 1.3 (0.9 - 1.8) > 0.05 13 -15 100 18.7 1.5 (1.1 - 2.1) Age Group 0.017 < 0.05 16 – 17 72 13.4 1.0 Urban 79 14.2 1.0 Region > 0.05 Rural 93 18.0 1.3 (1 - 1.8) Have close friends 144 15.8 1.0 Friendship > 0.05 Have no close 27 18.0 1.2 (0.7-1.8) friend 18.5 to 24.99 78 15.7 1 BMI Under 18.5 89 16.7 1.1 (0.8-1.5) > 0.05 Over 25 5 11.6 0.7 (0.3-1.9) 110 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018
5. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH Table 2 presents, according to age group, the propotion among 13-15 year-old students roughtly one in five, whist it was 13,4% among those of 16-17. Table 3. Association between mental health problem and being bullied among school students Mental health Bullied students OR p- value problems N % Ever 137 18.4 1.9 (1.3-2.9) Loneliness 0.001 < 0.05 Never 34 10.4 Ever 121 20.2 2.1 (1.5-3.1) Being worried Never 50 10.6 < 0.05 Ever 151 17.7 2.2(1.3-3.7) Hard focus 0.001 < 0.05 Never 19 8.8 Ever 35 31.8 2.8 (1.8-4.4) Suicide attempt Never 137 14.2 < 0.05 Table 3 indicates that mental health problems were associated with being victim of perpetration among school students. There is also evidence that students with mental health problems were significant likely to be perpetrated than those who had no any psychiatric problems. 29.1% of respondents who had ever smoked reported that they were bullied during the past 30 days. In participants using alcohol at least one drink during their lives, 25.5% of them reported being bullied. Statistically, students who had ever used tobacco and alcohol were associated with being bullied. The prevalence of being bullied among students who had ever consumed drug in their lifetime was nearly 30%. Although the odd ratio was reasonably high, there was no significant association between drug use and being a victim IV. DISCUSSION Findings of current study indicated that nearly 16% of total students reported being bullied over the past 30 days. This prevalence was lower than figures reported in previous studies conducted in Vietnam .and other countries, which reported a range from 20-50% bullying victims among school students [7, 8]. These distinctions can be explained by the discrepancies between sample sizes, instruments used or the time period when studies were carried out or even geographic features. This current research investigated the percentages of each type of bullying behaviors JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018 111
6. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH and differences in bullying among gender, studies we should increase the size of out age, region, friendship, and BMI. With sample. regard to age, the percentage of both age This current study detects a strong groups suffering from physical behaviors association between being bullied and were almost equal at around 9%, while the suffering from certain psychiatric problems proportion of younger students who reported among students. Respondents who reported verbal behaviors were both around 40%, having one in four mental disorders including much higher than the percentage amongst loneliness, being worried, hard focus, and older students. This was in accordance suicide attempt were significant more likely with previous findings [6,11]. As for distinct to report being bullied than students who did geographies, the percentages of urban not possess any mental health problems (p students who reported physical and verbal < 0.05). These results seem to be consistent bullying behaviors were 8.8% and 45.6%, with previous research in both Vietnam and higher than percentage of students rural other countries [14,15]. (8.6% and 31.2% respectively). A recent V. CONCLUSION study on cyber bullying among high school students in three provinces of Vietnam also The majority of victims were bullied on reported a higher figure in urban areas [12] 1 to 5 days in all 30 days and totalled 16% As for age, in accordance with findings of students. Among bullied students, verbal from previous studies, literature shows bullying behaviors were more prevalent higher prevalence of bullying among than physical behaviors. Students who were younger students. For instance, Indonesia bullied were significantly more prevalent GSHS data suggests higher prevalence of among younger students but were and victimization in 13 - 15 year-old students independent of gender. Students who had than in 16 -17 year-old students. This health risk behaviors including tobacco, current study also indicated that being alcohol consumption, loneliness, being bullied was more prevalent among worried, difficulty focusing, depression and younger participants (p < 0.05). Our study suicide attempts were significant more investigated health risk behaviors including likely to being bullied than those who never tobacco and alcohol consumption. These reported mental health problems (p < 0.05). results are in accord with recent studies all Additionally, the prevalence of being bullied over the world indicating the association among students who had ever reported one between being bullied and engaging in or two health risk behaviors was significant certain health behaviors [11]. In Vietnam, higher than that for those who had not. there were the similar results in GSHS 2013 Acknowledgements (2014). Although the OR was reasonably The authors thank the Department of high, there was no significant association Preventive Medicine - Ministry of Health for between drug use and being a victim. This funding for this study. could be due to sampling sizes. In future 112 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018
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