Citation

Van Cleave J, Davis MM. Pediatrics 2006; 118(4): e1212-9.

Affiliation

Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. (jvancleave@partners.org)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2005-3034

PMID

17015509

Abstract

The association between bullying, being bullied, or being a bully/victim and having a special health care need has not been well described in a national sample of children with a broad variety of special needs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the prevalence of bullying, being bullied, or being a bully/victim in children with special health care needs and associations of behaviors with particular types of special needs. DESIGN: We performed a secondary data analysis using the National Survey of Children's Health, a nationally representative telephone survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of >102,000 US households. METHODS: We measured associations between having a special health care need and being a victim of bullying, bullying other children, and being a bully/victim in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. Multiple logistic-regression models were used to examine the association of children with special health care needs overall, and of particular special needs, with the bullying measures. RESULTS: Overall, children with special health care needs were 21% of the population. In multivariate models adjusting for sociodemographic factors, being a child with special health care needs was associated with being bullied but not with bullying or being a bully/victim. Having a chronic behavioral, emotional, or developmental problem was associated with bullying others and with being a bully/victim. CONCLUSIONS: Having a special health care need generally is associated with being bullied, and having a behavioral, emotional, or developmental problem is associated with bullying others and being a bully/victim. These findings may help pediatricians, mental health providers, and schools use targeted screening and interventions to address bullying for children with special health care needs.

Language: en