Association Between Bully Victimization and Vaping Among Texas High School Students

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Bullying and vaping are significant public health concerns among adolescents.
• Existing research on the link between bully victimization and adolescent vaping is limited.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent association between bully victimization and vaping among high school students in Texas.
• To explore potential sex differences in the relationship between bullying and vaping.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of pooled data from the 2017 and 2019 Texas Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N=3,486).
• Categorization of past-year bully victimization into four groups: none, school only, cyber only, and both.
• Use of multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between bully victimization and current vape use.

Main Results:

• Past-year prevalence of school bullying only was 8.3%, cyberbullying only was 4.6%, and both was 7.7%.
• Overall vaping prevalence was 14.5% in the past 30 days.
• Female students experiencing both school and cyberbullying had 68% greater odds of vaping (AOR=1.68); no significant association was found in males.

Conclusions:

• Female Texas high school students who are victims of both school and cyberbullying demonstrate an increased likelihood of vaping.
• The findings underscore the importance of sex-specific considerations in interventions.
• Healthcare providers, counselors, and educators should be aware of this association to inform prevention programs addressing bullying and vaping.