Prevalence and context of peer bullying among adolescents in schools from Shaqra City: public-schools surveillance in Shaqra, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Bullying in schools is a serious global health issue that jeopardizes youth and future adult health and negatively impacts academic outcomes. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence, forms, and associated factors of bullying among students aged 7-17 in public schools in Shaqra City, Saudi Arabia, where no prior data existed. A total of 372 students participated, with a median age of 11 years (interquartile range 9-14), of whom 187 were girls. 27 students (12.6%) reported being bullied in the past month, primarily through verbal abuse (89.4%), followed by physical bullying (10.6%). Cyberbullying was prevalent, with all students bullied experiencing it through social media, and some through texting (6 students, 1.6%) or email (3 students, 0.8%). Factors like student and parent age, student sex, school level, class level, nationality, chronic diseases, polygamy, and smartphone ownership were not associated with bullying. Cyberbullying and bullying affected 12.6% of students. Verbal bullying, the most common, occurred in restrooms and halls. Victims were hesitant to discuss their worries with anyone. Bullying incidents both within and outside of schools were more likely to result in positive adult intervention. Bullying among adolescents was attributed to factors such as physical strength and size. The possible reactions of bystander peers to a bullying incident include alerting the school administration and directly intervening independently.