Factors Associated with School Bullying in Cartagena-Colombia: Analysis from the Victim’s Role

Abstract

Introduction: Bullying is frequently observed in school environments, which directly affects children and adolescents; hence, the identification of factors involved in the occurrence of this phenomenon is required. Objective: To determine the risk factors associated with bullying among students from two public educational institutions in Cartagena, from the victim’s perspective. Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 656 students from sixth to ninth grade, aged between ten and eleven years. Students with school absenteeism during data collection were excluded. A stratified sampling was conducted by proportional allocation. The Bullying Screening Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Family APGAR, the Family Violence Scale, the School Climate Scale, and the Authoritarian Attitude Questionnaire were used. A multivariate analysis was performed using the odds ratio (OR). Results: Risk factors identified included having an authoritarian attitude [4.7% (OR = 9.464)], experiencing severe or moderate family violence [16.2% and 0.6%, respectively (OR = 3.422)], having high self-esteem [5.2% (OR = 1.980)], and living with both parents [47.7% (OR = 1.359)]. Additionally, being from socioeconomic strata 3, 4, or 5; being male; belonging to a functional family; experiencing a positive school climate; and living with 4, 5, 6, or more people in the household were identified as protective factors. Conclusions: The factors associated with bullying identified highlight an opportunity for nursing intervention aimed at promoting mental health and fostering respectful treatment in schools, a field currently underexplored by these professionals.