Assessment of general bullying and bullying due to appearance of teeth in a sample of 11-16 year-old Peruvian schoolchildren

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: to assess the incidence of general bullying and bullying due to the appearance of teeth in a sample of 11-16 year-old peruvian schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS: cross-sectional study with a sample of 218 students aged 11 to 16 years old (13.41±1.44), 109 males, and 153 from a public school. a survey on general bullying and the appearance of teeth was applied using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: the frequency of general bullying was 32.57 precent, and bullying due to dental appearance was 18.81 percent. general bullying (p=0.005) and dental appearance (p=0.024) were more frequent in the public school, but there were no statistically significant differences according to sex. the highest frequency of general bullying was related to name-calling, which accounted for 47.71 percent. victimization by appearance of teeth in one or two occasions in the last two months accounted for 12.39 percent, according to participating subjects. CONCLUSION: general and tooth-related bullying was more frequent among students in public schools, with no significant differences according to sex.