Frequency of Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization and Associated Factors Among Norwegian Adolescents

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to identify frequency and psychosocial factors associated with being exposed to traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimization among junior high-school students in Norway. Additionally, the aim was to explore the specific types of bullying and cyberbullying victimization adolescents’ experience. This cross-sectional study is conducted among 2049 adolescents aged 13 to 16 years in junior-high schools in Norway. Overall, 13% reported experiences of being victimized of bullying and 12% of cyberbullying in the past 6 months. Two logistic regression analyses examined associations between being victimized of bullying or cyberbullying with gender, grade, socio-economic status (SES), unauthorized absence from school, and alcohol use. The odds of being a victim of bullying or cyberbullying significantly decreased the more the adolescents perceived the SES of the family as good. The odds of being cyberbullied were twice as high for girls and were significantly decreased when the adolescents had zero days with unauthorized absence from school and had not started to drink alcohol. Furthermore, girls experienced more indirect types of bullying (e.g., exclusion) compared to boys. Regarding the direct types of bullying, boys experienced significantly more often physically forms (e.g., hitting), while girls experienced more insulting forms (e.g., being called names). Implications for bullying prevention efforts are discussed.