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Bullying Victimization and Associations With Substance Use Among US Middle School Students: 2019 Youth Risk Behavior
Colleen Barbero1, Kevin J Vagi1, Heather Clayton1
1Division of Violence Prevention (DVP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA.
Background:
Research shows associations between bullying victimization and substance use for teens. However, more research about this relationship for younger adolescents and across race/ethnicity is needed.
Methods:
Prevalence and pooled logistic regression analyses of 2019 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 13 states (N = 74,059 students) examined associations between self-reported bulling victimization (at school, electronically, and both) and having ever tried cigarette smoking, alcohol, or marijuana; used an electronic vapor product; or misused prescription pain medicine. Regression analyses were adjusted by age and sex/race/ethnicity.
Results:
All 3 measures of bullying victimization were significantly associated (p < .05) with the 5 substance use behaviors examined (adjusted prevalence ratios ranged from 1.29 to 2.32). These associations held across sexes. Significant associations were found within all 7 race/ethnicity categories, with the most associations reported for the non-Hispanic (NH) white, NH black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, and NH Asian groups.
Conclusion:
The association between bullying and substance use by middle school is a highly relevant issue to consider as students return to classrooms.
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