Bullying, cyberbullying, and associations with access to technology and the mental health of schoolchildren

• Grant number: 25/02909-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Psychological Treatment and Prevention
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Luiz da Silva
• Grantee: Izabella Galo Marques
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The problematic use of digital technologies during adolescence reduces the time for social interactions, possibly contributing to aggressive behavior and violence, including bullying and cyberbullying, which negatively impact social relationships and mental health. This study aims to identify the prevalence of aggression and victimization through bullying and cyberbullying among Brazilian students and analyze its association with mental health variables and access to mobile phones, computers, and the Internet. This cross-sectional, population-based study used publicly available data from the fourth edition of the Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) [National School Health Survey]. A total of 159,245 students from 7th to 12th grade, enrolled in 4,253 public and private schools in urban and rural areas across Brazil, participated in the study. Data were collected in schools by employees of the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) [Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics] through a self-administered questionnaire. A model assessing the association between bullying, cyberbullying, sociodemographic variables, mental health, and access to technology will be tested using logistic regression, with odds ratio estimates and 95% confidence intervals. The findings are expected to provide insights into the relationship between bullying, cyberbullying, mental health, and technology access while informing intervention strategies to promote adolescent mental health and prevent school violence. (AU)