Unmasking Bullying: A Cross-Sectional Study on Its Prevalence and Impact Among School-Aged Children

Bullying among school-going children is a significant public health issue that impacts mental and physical well-being. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence and factors contributing to bullying in school-going children. The study seeks to give data for policymakers and parents, as it can inform initiatives aimed at improving the mental health of bullied children.  Material and methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 1,000 students as study participants between the age group of 11 to 19 years. Both private and government schools were selected. Three different prevalidated questionnaires were utilised to gather data on the number of bullied students, their psychological health, and their social interactions. The data collected were quantitatively analysed to ascertain the number of students experiencing bullying and the psychiatric issues that may have arisen as a result.  Results: The prevalence of bullied students was 399 out of 856 (46.73%), which was similar in government and private settings. The proportion of bullied students reduced with higher age and grades. The mean age of bullied students was 14.27±1.68 years. The majority of students reported good self-esteem. However, about a quarter of the students reported clinically significant anxiety.  Conclusion: The findings of this study clearly indicate that bullying is alarmingly prevalent among school-aged children. The data suggest a strong correlation between bullying involvement and behavioural problems among adolescents. This underscores the urgent need to investigate the causes of bullying further and to implement targeted interventions within schools to reduce its prevalence.