Examining Associations Between Race, Gender, Alcohol Use, School Performance, and Patterns of Bullying in the School Context: A Latent Class Analysis

Author(s)

Ferreira, Valdemir ^[1] ; Valente, Juliana Y. ^[2] ; Sanchez, Zila M. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Rua Botucatu 740, 4th Floor, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Prevent Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE; MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Although many studies addressed bullying occurrence and its associations, they often use individual variables constructed from few items that probably are inadequate to evaluate bullying severity and type. We aimed to identify involvement patterns in bullying victimization and perpetration, and its association with alcohol use, school performance, and sociodemographic variables. Baseline assessment of a randomized controlled trial were used and a latent class analysis was conducted to identify bullying patterns among 1,742 fifth-grade and 2,316 seventh-grade students from 30 public schools in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected using an anonymous self-reported, audio-guided questionnaire completed by the participants on smartphones. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to verify how covariant variables affected bullying latent classes. Both grades presented the same four latent classes: low bullying, moderate bullying victimization, high bullying victimization, and high bullying victimization and perpetration. Alcohol use was associated with all bullying classes in both grades, with odds ratio up to 5.36 (95% CI 3.05; 10.38) among fifth graders from the high bullying victimization and perpetration class. Poor school performance was also strongly associated with this class (aOR = 10.12, 95%CI = 4.19; 24.41). Black/brown 5th graders were 3.35 times more likely to fit into the high bullying victimization class (95% CI 1.34; 8.37). Lack of evidence for association of sociodemographic variables and bullying latent class among seventh-grade students was found. Bullying and alcohol use are highly harmful behaviors that must be prevented. However, prevention programs should consider how racial and gender issues are influencing the way students experience violence. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/04022-5 - Prevention of bullying and school violence: randomized controlled trial of Educational Program for Resistance to Drugs and Violence (PROERD) of the Military Police of the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Valdemir Ferreira Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master