Bullying and discrimination experiences of bhutanese college students: Prevalence, impacts, and responses

Prior studies as well as media reports have identified bullying and discrimination amongst Bhutanese school and college students as a cause of concern, especially so for a nation with Gross National Happiness as its goal. Bullying and discrimination are associated with negative outcomes and can impact overall well-being. This quantitative study examined bullying and discrimination amongst college students ( n = 16) in Bhutan through a self-administered online survey to a representative sample of 2043 (male = 40.8%; female = 55.8%). There was a non-significant decline from the 2016 survey in the reported prevalence of being bullied (from 45.2% to 35.5%), but a significant decline in the prevalence of bullying others (from 18% to about 10%) and discrimination experiences (from 51.3% to 45.8%). Being bullied was associated with psychological distress, suicidality, lower resilience, more frequent alcohol and other substance use, and, for some, bullying others. Findings from the study provide insights into practical and theoretical implications that can assist education stakeholders in designing appropriate measures in Bhutan and elsewhere.