NCJ Number
246798
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2014 Pages: 517-526
Date Published
March 2014
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study of adolescents in Taiwan examined the mediating effect of being a victim or perpetrator of bullying on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mental health problems; and the moderation effects of gender on the mediating role of bullying victimization was also examined.
Abstract
The study found that being a victim of active and passive bullying mediated the relationship of BMI with social phobia, depression, suicide ideation, and self-esteem in adolescents. Another significant finding of this study is that not only bullying victimization but also bullying perpetration of passive bullying mediated the relationship of increased BMI with social phobia, depression, suicide ideation, and self-esteem. Research in Canada and the United States also found that overweight youths were more likely to perpetrate bullying than their classmates of normal weight; however, in the current study, this link was found only for passive bullying (verbal and social bullying). Gender did not have a significant moderation effect on the mediating role of bullying involvement. These findings suggest that the development of prevention and treatment programs for adolescents with increased BMI take into account the likelihood that bullying victimization and/or perpetration is a factor in poor mental health. A total of 5,252 students in high schools in Taiwan completed the questionnaires. Victimization and perpetration of passive and active bullying were assessed with the Chinese version of the School Bullying Experience Questionnaire. BMI was calculated from self-reported weight and height measurements. Various other instruments were used to measure mental disorders. 1 figure, 3 tables, and 62 references