Patterns of peer bullying among adolescents: the role of BMI and socioeconomic factors – a cross-sectional study in Turkey

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Peer bullying represent significant public health challenges with profound implications for adolescent psychosocial development. This study investigates the frequency of traditional and cyberbullying among adolescents, specifically examining how BMI and socioeconomic factors predict victimization risk and frequency. This study aimed to determine the frequency of peerbullying among school-aged children and adolescents and to examine the predictive impact of body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic factors on victimization. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 330 Turkish adolescents aged 10-17 years of school-aged children and adolescents. Data were collected using the 9-item Child-Adolescent Bullying Scale (CABS-9) - Short Form along with a demographic information form. BMI was calculated based on height and weight measurements. Statistical analysis included regression models to determine the variance explained by BMI. RESULTS: =0.175), with overweight and obese participants reporting significantly higher victimization scores (19.12 ± 6.15) compared to their normal-weight peers (13.50 ± 3.85). Verbal bullying (mocking and ridiculing) was the most frequent (33.9 %). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that bullying frequency in this sample exceeds global averages but aligns with regional trends in high- frequency areas. The significant predictive power of BMI suggests that physical appearance remains a primary catalyst for peer exclusion and mockery. These results underscore the urgent need for early-intervention programs, starting in primary school, that focus on body positivity, self-esteem enhancement, and the social integration of economically disadvantaged students.