The bullies, victims, and bystanders of bullying among adolescents in Bali

Abstract

Purpose: Bullying is a repeated and intentional form of aggressive behavior involving intimidation, oppression, or harm toward others. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bullying victimization and perpetration among adolescents in Bali and to describe their bystander responses, including prosocial and negative bystander behavior. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional survey involved 783 adolescents in Bali recruited using a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. Data were collected from September to November 2022 through a confidential self-administered online questionnaire administered via Google Forms. The questionnaire was adapted from the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire and assessed bullying victimization, perpetration, and bystander responses. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics and estimated the prevalence of each bullying-related role. Results: When assessed as separate dimensions, bullying victimization was reported by 35.9% of respondents and bullies (bullying perpetration) by 19.0%. Regarding bystander responses, 46.4% of respondents were classified as prosocial bystanders, whereas 53.6% were classified as negative bystanders. Conclusion: Bullying remains an important concern among adolescents in Bali, particularly because a substantial proportion of respondents reported victimization and negative bystander behavior. Health workers should strengthen early identification and psychosocial support for adolescents affected by bullying. Educators should implement school-based prevention and bystander-intervention strategies, parents should promote supportive communication and prosocial behavior, and policymakers should strengthen comprehensive anti-bullying policies and cross-sectoral collaboration.