Katelyn K Jetelina1, Jennifer M Reingle Gonzalez2, Paula M Cuccaro3, Melissa F Peskin3, Lisa Pompeii4, Folefac Atem2, Marc N Elliott5, Valerie A Earnshaw6, Susan L Davies7, Mark A Schuster8. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX. Electronic address: katelyn.k.jetelina@uth.tmc.edu. 2. Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX. 3. Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Houston, TX. 4. Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. 5. RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA. 6. Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Delaware, Newark. 7. Department of Health Behavior, UAB Center for the Study of Community Health, Birmingham, AL. 8. Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, Pasadena, CA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between sociodemographics and the prevalence of bullying victimization and perpetration using single-item and multiple-item measures. METHODS: Longitudinal survey data were obtained from 4297 children at fifth, seventh, and tenth grade in three U.S. cities. Bullying victimization and perpetration were measured in two ways: 1) a single-item recall measure; and 2) a separate multiple-item measure using specific behaviors indicating bullying victimization and perpetration. Multilevel logistic regression modeled the relationship between sociodemographics and bullying, stratified by measurement type. RESULTS: In fifth grade, 4% of children were identified as victims using the single-item approach but not the multiple-item approach, 27% were identified as victims using the multiple-item approach but not the single-item approach, and 17% were identified as victims using both approaches. For perpetration, 3% were identified using the single-item approach but not the multiple-item approach, 18% were identified using the multiple-item and not the single-item approach, and 4% were identified using both approaches. The odds of victimization were significantly lower in seventh and tenth grades than in fifth grade using both approaches. The single-item odds of perpetration were significantly lower in tenth grade than fifth grade, but the multiple-item odds of perpetration significantly increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Bullying prevalence rates are sensitive to the structure of measures. Future research should identify whether these differences reflect a lack of awareness of types of bullying and/or cognitive variability in answering sensitive survey questions.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between sociodemographics and the prevalence of bullying victimization and perpetration using single-item and multiple-item measures. METHODS: Longitudinal survey data were obtained from 4297 children at fifth, seventh, and tenth grade in three U.S. cities. Bullying victimization and perpetration were measured in two ways: 1) a single-item recall measure; and 2) a separate multiple-item measure using specific behaviors indicating bullying victimization and perpetration. Multilevel logistic regression modeled the relationship between sociodemographics and bullying, stratified by measurement type. RESULTS: In fifth grade, 4% of children were identified as victims using the single-item approach but not the multiple-item approach, 27% were identified as victims using the multiple-item approach but not the single-item approach, and 17% were identified as victims using both approaches. For perpetration, 3% were identified using the single-item approach but not the multiple-item approach, 18% were identified using the multiple-item and not the single-item approach, and 4% were identified using both approaches. The odds of victimization were significantly lower in seventh and tenth grades than in fifth grade using both approaches. The single-item odds of perpetration were significantly lower in tenth grade than fifth grade, but the multiple-item odds of perpetration significantly increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Bullying prevalence rates are sensitive to the structure of measures. Future research should identify whether these differences reflect a lack of awareness of types of bullying and/or cognitive variability in answering sensitive survey questions.
Authors: Marine Azevedo Da Silva; Jasmin C Gonzalez; Gregory L Person; Silvia S Martins Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2019-11-25 Impact factor: 5.012