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Abstract
Background: One in three adolescents worldwide report being bullied within the past month. Existing research has demonstrated a link between bullying victimization and various mental health problems including depression. However, most of these studies concentrated in high-income countries (HICs) which necessitates local data to quantify the prevalence and potential consequences on adolescent mental well-being.
Objectives: To measure the prevalence of bullying victimization and depression and determine the association between the two in adolescents in Nifas Silk Lafto sub city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 597 participants. Multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable analysis were computed using binary logistic regression to identify the association between bullying victimization and depression.
Results: The prevalence of bullying victimization in this study was 47.6% (95% CI: 43.6%-51.6%) and that of depression was found to be 17.2% (95% CI: 14.4%-20.5%). A statistically significant association was found between bullying victimization and depression [aOR = 3.62; 95% CI: 2.22 – 5.93].
Conclusion and Recommendation: Both bullying and depression were found to be prevalent among school-going adolescents in the study. School-based awareness campaigns and teacher training programs on bullying and its associated adverse consequences, periodic screening for depression and establishing referral and linkage services within schools are recommended.
Keywords: Bullying victimization, Depression, Adolescence, Cross-sectional, Addis Ababa |
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