Bullying Behaviors among Adolescents in Georgia

Bullying Behaviors Among Adolescents in Georgia Keywords: bullying, adolescents, health, Georgia BackgroundBullying among adolescents is a significant public health challenge and poses a serious threat to physical and psychosocial well-being. Adolescents involved in bullying, whether as perpetrators or victims, are at increased risk of developing mental health problems and engaging in risky behaviors. Despite its importance, bullying in Georgia was not systematically studied until the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 2017. Objective To examine the prevalence of bullying among school-aged children in Georgia. To investigate associated social determinants and health behaviors. MethodsThe pilot study included 1,712 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 from 22 public and private schools. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between bullying involvement and health-related variables. Ethical approval was obtained from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) of Georgia. ResultsApproximately one in eight respondents reported bullying others at school. Boys were more likely than girls to engage in bullying (56% vs. 44%). Bullying was strongly associated with substance use, including alcohol (64% of perpetrators, 63% of victims), tobacco, and cannabis. Most adolescents involved in bullying reported positive perceptions of their health, family well-being, and school satisfaction. A notable association was also observed between bullying involvement and subjective health complaints. ConclusionBoys were more likely to participate in bullying, and bullying prevalence increased with age in both sexes. Further research is needed to explore adolescents’ perceptions of bullying and its broader psychosocial impacts.