Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research article

Associations between self-efficacy, bullying and health-related quality of life in a school sample of adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Kristin Haraldstad, Lisbeth G. Kvarme, Knut-Andreas Christophersen, Sølvi Helseth

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

To better understand health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents, it is important to gain knowledge about factors associated with HRQOL. Being involved in bullying is a significant threat to health, and social and psychological well-being; further, such problems can last into adulthood. The aim of this study was to explore the role of general self-efficacy (GSE) and bullying in relation to HRQOL. We specifically sought to study the prevalence of bullying, as well as the associations between both bullying and self-efficacy and HRQOL in a sample of adolescents.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 723 adolescents (12–18 years) attending schools selected using randomized cluster sampling. HRQOL was measured using the KIDSCREEN-52, self-efficacy was measured with the GSE scale, and bullying was measured using the two global questions from the Olweus bullying questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore how being bullied, bullying, and GSE were associated with variations in self-reported HRQOL.

Results

Of the 723 adolescents, 13% reported being bullied; there were no gender differences within this finding. However, more boys than girls reported that they had bullied others. Both being bullied, and bullying others, were associated with lower HRQOL; however, being bullied was associated with the lowest scores. Higher self-efficacy was associated with better HRQOL. Self-efficacy contributed significantly to predicting variation in HRQOL.

Conclusions

Being involved in bullying, as a victim or a bully, is associated with lower HRQOL. The association between GSE and HRQOL indicates that self-efficacy might be a resource for increasing HRQOL among adolescents. Our findings highlight the importance of targeting self-efficacy beliefs as an intervention strategy to improve GSE and HRQOL in adolescents involved in bullying.
Literature
1.
Langford R, Bonell C, Jones H, Pouliou T, Murphy S, Waters E, Komro K, Gibbs L, Magnus D, Campbell R. The World Health Organization's health promoting schools framework: a Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2015;15:130.CrossRef
2.
Ravens-Sieberer U, Herdman M, Devine J, Otto C, Bullinger M, Rose M, Klasen F. The European KIDSCREEN approach to measure quality of life and well-being in children: development, current application, and future advances. Qual Life Res. 2014;23(3):791–803.CrossRef
3.
Varni JW, Burwinkle TM, Lane MM. Health-related quality of life measurement in pediatric clinical practice: an appraisal and precept for future research and application. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2005;3:34.CrossRef
4.
Petersen-Ewert C, Erhart M, Ravens-Sieberer U. Assessing health-related quality of life in European children and adolescents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011;35(8):1752–6.CrossRef
5.
Kvarme LG, Haraldstad K, Helseth S, Sorum R, Natvig GK. Associations between general self-efficacy and health-related quality of life among 12-13-year-old school children: a cross-sectional survey. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:85.CrossRef
6.
Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev. 1977;84(2):191–215.CrossRef
7.
Bandura A, Cioffi D, Taylor CB, Brouillard ME. Perceived self-efficacy in coping with cognitive stressors and opioid activation. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988;55(3):479–88.CrossRef
8.
Natvig GK, Albrektsen G, Qvarnstrom U. Associations between psychosocial factors and happiness among school adolescents. Int J Nurs Pract. 2003;9(3):166–75.CrossRef
9.
Wang X, Zhang Y, Hui Z, Bai W, Terry PD, Ma M, Li Y, Cheng L, Gu W, Wang M. The mediating effect of regulatory emotional self-efficacy on the association between self-esteem and school bullying in middle school students: a cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(5).CrossRef
10.
Schwarzer R, Renner B. Social-cognitive predictors of health behavior: action self-efficacy and coping self-efficacy. Health Psychol. 2000;19(5):487–95.CrossRef
11.
Wilkins-Shurmer A, O'Callaghan MJ, Najman JM, Bor W, Williams GM, Anderson MJ. Association of bullying with adolescent health-related quality of life. J Paediatr Child Health. 2003;39(6):436–41.CrossRef
12.
Otto C, Haller AC, Klasen F, Holling H, Bullinger M, Ravens-Sieberer U. Risk and protective factors of health-related quality of life in children and adolescents: results of the longitudinal BELLA study. PLoS One. 2017;12(12):e0190363.CrossRef
13.
Allison S, Roeger L, Reinfeld-Kirkman N. Does school bullying affect adult health? Population survey of health-related quality of life and past victimization. Aus N Z J Psychiatry. 2009;43(12):1163–70.CrossRef
14.
Chester KL, Spencer NH, Whiting L, Brooks FM. Association between experiencing relational bullying and adolescent health-related quality of life. Journal School Health. 2017;87(11):865–72.CrossRef
15.
Fantaguzzi C, Allen E, Miners A, Christie D, Opondo C, Sadique Z, Fletcher A, Grieve R, Bonell C, Viner RM, et al. Health-related quality of life associated with bullying and aggression: a cross-sectional study in English secondary schools. Eur J Health Econ. 2018;19(5):641–51.CrossRef
16.
Gonzalez-Cabrera J, Leon-Mejia A, Beranuy M, Gutierrez-Ortega M, Alvarez-Bardon A, Machimbarrena JM. Relationship between cyberbullying and health-related quality of life in a sample of children and adolescents. Qual Life Res. 2018.
17.
Frisen A, Bjarnelind S. Health-related quality of life and bullying in adolescence. Acta Paediatr. 2010;99(4):597–603.CrossRef
18.
Modecki KL, Minchin J, Harbaugh AG, Guerra NG, Runions KC. Bullying prevalence across contexts: a meta-analysis measuring cyber and traditional bullying. J Adolesc Health. 2014;55(5):602–11.CrossRef
19.
Undheim AM, Sund AM. Prevalence of bullying and aggressive behavior and their relationship to mental health problems among 12- to 15-year-old Norwegian adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010;19(11):803–11.CrossRef
20.
Magklara K, Skapinakis P, Gkatsa T, Bellos S, Araya R, Stylianidis S, Mavreas V. Bullying behaviour in schools, socioeconomic position and psychiatric morbidity: a cross-sectional study in late adolescents in Greece. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2012;6:8.CrossRef
21.
Analitis F, Velderman MK, Ravens-Sieberer U, Detmar S, Erhart M, Herdman M, Berra S, Alonso J, Rajmil L. Being bullied: associated factors in children and adolescents 8 to 18 years old in 11 European countries. Pediatrics. 2009;123(2):569–77.CrossRef
22.
Sigurdson JF, Undheim AM, Wallander JL, Lydersen S, Sund AM. The long-term effects of being bullied or a bully in adolescence on externalizing and internalizing mental health problems in adulthood. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2015;9:42.CrossRef
23.
Sigurdson JF, Wallander J, Sund AM. Is involvement in school bullying associated with general health and psychosocial adjustment outcomes in adulthood? Child Abuse Negl. 2014;38(10):1607–17.CrossRef
24.
Brunstein Klomek A, Snir A, Apter A, Carli V, Wasserman C, Hadlaczky G, Hoven CW, Sarchiapone M, Balazs J, Bobes J, et al. Association between victimization by bullying and direct self injurious behavior among adolescence in Europe: a ten-country study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(11):1183–93.CrossRef
25.
Undheim AM, Wallander J, Sund AM. Coping strategies and associations with depression among 12- to 15-year-old Norwegian adolescents involved in bullying. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2016;204(4):274–9.CrossRef
26.
Olweus D. Bullying at school and later criminality: findings from three Swedish community samples of males. Crim Behav Ment Health. 2011;21(2):151–6.CrossRef
27.
Wolke D, Copeland WE, Angold A, Costello EJ. Impact of bullying in childhood on adult health, wealth, crime, and social outcomes. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(10):1958–70.CrossRef
28.
Troop-Gordon W. Peer victimization in adolescence: the nature, progression, and consequences of being bullied within a developmental context. J Adolesc. 2017;55:116–28.CrossRef
29.
Troop-Gordon W, Sugimura N, Rudolph KD. Responses to interpersonal stress: normative changes across childhood and the impact of peer victimization. Child Dev. 2016.
30.
Evans-Lacko S, Takizawa R, Brimblecombe N, King D, Knapp M, Maughan B, Arseneault L. Childhood bullying victimization is associated with use of mental health services over five decades: a longitudinal nationally representative cohort study. Psychol Med. 2017;47(1):127–35.CrossRef
31.
Lee KS, Vaillancourt T. Longitudinal associations among bullying by peers, disordered eating behavior, and symptoms of depression during adolescence. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018;75(6):605–12.CrossRef
32.
Waasdorp TE, Pas ET, Zablotsky B, Bradshaw CP. Ten-year trends in bullying and related attitudes among 4th- to 12th-graders. Pediatrics. 2017;139(6).CrossRef
33.
Lereya ST, Copeland WE, Zammit S, Wolke D. Bully/victims: a longitudinal, population-based cohort study of their mental health. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015;24(12):1461–71.CrossRef
34.
Copeland WE, Wolke D, Angold A, Costello EJ. Adult psychiatric outcomes of bullying and being bullied by peers in childhood and adolescence. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(4):419–26.CrossRef
35.
Olweus D. School bullying: development and some important challenges. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2013;9:751–80.CrossRef
36.
Palermo TM, Valrie CR, Karlson CW. Family and parent influences on pediatric chronic pain: a developmental perspective. Am Psychol. 2014;69(2):142–52.CrossRef
37.
Olweus D. Bullying at school: basic facts and effects of a school based intervention program. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1994;35(7):1171–90.CrossRef
38.
Kokkinos CMPP, Tsolakidou I, Tzeliou E. Coping with bullying and victimisation among pre-adolescents: the moderating effect of self-efficacy. Emot Behav Diffic. 2015;20(2):205–22.CrossRef
39.
Ystrom E, Niegel S, Klepp KI, Vollrath ME. The impact of maternal negative affectivity and general self-efficacy on breastfeeding: the Norwegian mother and child cohort study. J Pediatr. 2008;152(1):68–72.CrossRef
40.
Luszczynska A, Scholz U, Schwarzer R. The general self-efficacy scale: multicultural validation studies. J Psychol. 2005;139(5):439–57.CrossRef
41.
Solberg ME, Olweus D, Endresen IM. Bullies and victims at school: are they the same pupils? Br J Educ Psychol. 2007;77(Pt 2):441–64.CrossRef
42.
Haraldstad K, Christophersen KA, Eide H, Nativg GK, Helseth S. Health related quality of life in children and adolescents: reliability and validity of the Norwegian version of KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire, a cross sectional study. Int J Nurs Stud. 2011;48(5):573–81.CrossRef
43.
Ravens-Sieberer U, Gosch A, Rajmil L, Erhart M, Bruil J, Power M, Duer W, Auquier P, Cloetta B, Czemy L, et al. The KIDSCREEN-52 quality of life measure for children and adolescents: psychometric results from a cross-cultural survey in 13 European countries. Value Health. 2008;11(4):645–58.CrossRef
44.
Meade T, Dowswell E. Adolescents' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes over time: a three year longitudinal study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2016;14:14.CrossRef
45.
The KIDSCREEN Group. The KIDSCREEN questionnaires, handbook. Berlin: PABST SCIENCE PUBLISHERS; 2006.
46.
Juvonen J, Graham S. Bullying in schools: the power of bullies and the plight of victims. Annu Rev Psychol. 2014;65:159–85.CrossRef
47.
Nordhagen R, Nielsen A, Stigum H, Köhler L. Parental reported bullying amongNordic children: a population-based study. Child Care Health Dev. 2005;31(6):693–701.CrossRef
48.
Beckman L, Svensson M. The cost-effectiveness of the Olweus bullying prevention program: results from a modelling study. J Adolesc. 2015;45:127–37.CrossRef
49.
Svavarsdottir EK, Orlygsdottir B. Health-related quality of life in Icelandic school children. Scand J Caring Sci. 2006;20(2):209–15.CrossRef
50.
Undheim AM, Sund AM. School factors and the emergence of depressive symptoms among young Norwegian adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2005;14(8):446–53.CrossRef
51.
Ravens-Sieberer U, Erhart M, Wille N, Wetzel R, Nickel J, Bullinger M. Generic health-related quality-of-life assessment in children and adolescents: methodological considerations. PharmacoEconomics. 2006;24(12):1199–220.CrossRef
52.
Meilstrup C, Ersboll AK, Nielsen L, Koushede V, Bendtsen P, Due P, Holstein BE. Emotional symptoms among adolescents: epidemiological analysis of individual-, classroom- and school-level factors. Eur J Pub Health. 2015;25(4):644–9.CrossRef
53.
Kvarme LG, Aabo LS, Saeteren B. From victim to taking control: support Group for Bullied Schoolchildren. J Sch Nurs. 2016;32(2):112–9.CrossRef
54.
Bandura A. The assessment and predictive generality of self-percepts of efficacy. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1982;13(3):195–9.CrossRef
55.
Bandura A, Caprara GV, Barbaranelli C, Pastorelli C, Regalia C. Sociocognitive self-regulatory mechanisms governing transgressive behavior. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001;80(1):125–35.CrossRef
56.
Kvarme LG, Helseth S, Sorum R, Luth-Hansen V, Haugland S, Natvig GK. The effect of a solution-focused approach to improve self-efficacy in socially withdrawn school children: a non-randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2010;47(11):1389–96.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Associations between self-efficacy, bullying and health-related quality of life in a school sample of adolescents: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Kristin Haraldstad
Lisbeth G. Kvarme
Knut-Andreas Christophersen
Sølvi Helseth
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7115-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

BMC Public Health 1/2019 Go to the issue

Research article

Pain situations among working adults and the educational needs identified: an exploratory survey via WeChat

Research article

Association between intestinal worm infection and malnutrition among rural children aged 9–11 years old in Guizhou Province, China

Research article

Community, system and policy level drivers of bovine tuberculosis in smallholder periurban dairy farms in India: a qualitative enquiry

Research article

Validity of Danish register diagnoses of myocardial infarction and stroke against experts in people with screen-detected diabetes

Research article

Exclusive breastfeeding and maternal employment among mothers of infants from three to five months old in the Fafan zone, Somali regional state of Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

Research article

Tobacco use and associated risk factors in Burkina Faso: results from a population-based cross-sectional survey