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International Journal of Public Health

Published in:

01-04-2013 | Original Article

School bullying, homicide and income inequality: a cross-national pooled time series analysis

Authors: Frank J. Elgar, Kate E. Pickett, William Pickett, Wendy Craig, Michal Molcho, Klaus Hurrelmann, Michela Lenzi

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 2/2013

Abstract

Objectives

To examine the relation between income inequality and school bullying (perpetration, victimisation and bully/victims) and explore whether the relation is attributable to international differences in violent crime.

Methods

Between 1994 and 2006, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study surveyed 117 nationally representative samples of adolescents about their involvement in school bullying over the previous 2 months. Country prevalence rates of bullying were matched to data on income inequality and homicides.

Results

With time and country differences held constant, income inequality positively related to the prevalence of bullying others at least twice (b = 0.25), victimisation by bullying at least twice (b = 0.29) and both bullied and victimisation at least twice (b = 0.40). The relation between income inequality and victimisation was partially mediated by country differences in homicides.

Conclusions

Understanding the social determinants of school bullying facilitates anti-bullying policy by identifying groups at risk and exposing its cultural and economic influences. This study found that cross-national differences in income inequality related to the prevalence of school bullying in most age and gender groups due, in part, to a social milieu of interpersonal violence.

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Title: School bullying, homicide and income inequality: a cross-national pooled time series analysis
Authors: Frank J. Elgar
Kate E. Pickett
William Pickett
Wendy Craig
Michal Molcho
Klaus Hurrelmann
Michela Lenzi
Publication date: 01-04-2013
Publisher: SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-012-0380-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

School bullying, homicide and income inequality: a cross-national pooled time series analysis

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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