Objective:

To determine the prevalence of bullying victims and analyze the influence of personal and social factors on this phenomenon in a population of adolescents.

Methods:

A descriptive, cross-sectional, and multicenter study, was conducted in sudents aged 15-18 years old in five high schools in Cuenca (Spain) during the 2015-2016 academic year. The study variables were collected via a self-administered questionnaire and included: age, sex, and subscales of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire and the CD-RISC 10 resilience scale.

Results:

Data were collected from 844 students (54% girls); the average age of the sample was 16.36 years. The overall prevalence of bullying victims was 29.5%. Multivariate analysis for personal factors showed that being female, more resilient, having a better self-perception, and psychological well-being protected against being a bullying victim. The social-factors model indicated that availability of economic resources, good relationships with parents and friends, and the school environment also had a protective effect.

Conclusion

Bullying is a complex phenomenon which is highly prevalent and has a high social impact. Our work indicates that the characteristics of adolescents, including their capacity for resilience and emotional control, as well as those related to their social support network, are protective factors against bullying. Prevention policies must be multisectoral and multidisciplinary and involve families, school and care environments, and social networks. Primary care nurses, and especially school nurses, could facilitate greater coordination among these different sectors, helping them join forces to promote safe environments for our young people.

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