TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - Connection between experiences of bullying and risky behaviors in middle and high school students JO - School mental health A1 - Smalley, K. Bryant A1 - Warren, Jacob C. A1 - Barefoot, K. Nikki SP - 87 EP - 96 VL - 9 IS - 1 N2 - The goal of the current study was to investigate the association of experiences of bullying with 17 individual risk behaviors in a large, non-clinical sample of middle and high school students. Data were analyzed from the 2013 Georgia Student Health Survey II, administered to 6th-12th grade students in all public schools in Georgia (n = 513,909). Bullied students reported higher levels of engagement in every risk behavior investigated, with the largest connections related to safety-related absenteeism (OR 25.4, p < 0.001 and OR 17.0, p < 0.001 for high/middle school students, respectively) and bringing a weapon to school (OR 10.9, p < 0.001 and OR 6.81, p < 0.001 for high/middle school students, respectively). Overall, the current findings reveal alarming relationships between bullying and risk-taking behaviors that suggest bullying is associated with a large portion of substance use, self-harm, and weapons seen in middle and high school students. These behaviors place bullied children at risk of long-term physical and psychological consequences, as well as potential legal complications.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1866-2625 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12310-016-9194-z ID - ref1 ER -