Association between bullying and family factors among middle school students in a city of central China / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To explore the relationship between bullying among middle school students and family factors in a city of central China, so as to provide support for the prevention and reduction of school bullying among middle school students.@*Methods@#The stratified cluster random sampling method was used to investigate the bullying involvement and family factors of 2 996 middle school students from first grade in junior high school to third grade in high school in a city in central China. Chi-square test and Logistic-regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between family factors and bullying participation of middle school students.@*Results@#Among 2 996 students, 390 students(13.0%) were found of having bullying behavior, and 1 127 students(37.6%) were found of being bullied. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in family factors such as whether she or he is the only child, father-child relationship, mother-child relationship, marital status of parents, whether the mother work away from hometown, education level of father and mother(χ2=8.88, 56.49, 30.85, 30.91, 3.89, 10.36, 11.72；25.00, 69.33, 46.76, 57.09, 3.93, 23.19, 45.49, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the only child and mother’s education degree was junior college and below were the risk factors for middle school students’ bullying involvement (OR=1.37，1.39). Parents’ harmonious marital status and father’s not working outside are the protective factors of middle school students’ bullying(OR=0.53, 0.83).The only child is the risk factor of bullying in middle school students (OR=1.42), and good father relationship is the protective factor of bullying in middle school students (OR=0.38).@*Conclusion@#Family factors have a certain impact on the involvement of middle school students in bullying in a city of central China, and corresponding preventive measures should be formulated from the perspective of family to focus on the intervention of high-risk groups.