Rudina Çumashi1, Entela Neziri1, Romina Hala1, Ervisa Demollari2, Gentiana Qirjako1,3
1Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania;
2Health Care Services Operator;
3Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania.
Background: Violence among children has lifelong impacts on health and well-being of children. Studies have particularlyemphasized the negative mental health outcomes of being a victim, which include psychological maladjustment, psychosomatichealth problems and suicide. Bullying can take many forms of behaviour, including direct and indirect physical and psychological aggression, verbal harassment, negative gestures, and peer isolation.
Methods:HBSC isa school-based survey with data collected through self – completion questionnaires from children. The last round of HBSC survey conducted in Albania in 2018 included 4833 school-children (48.2% males vs. 51.8 % females) aged 11, 13 and 15 years.In the survey measurement of bulling included assessment of having taken part in bullying (both perpetration and victimization) and having taken part in cyberbullying (referred to as perpetration of cyber bullying and victimization) in the past couple of months before the survey.
Results: HBSC study identified that bulling was more common among boys and more frequent in children aged 13.Only 17% of school-aged childrenhad bullied others once or twice during two months before study.Regarding the bullying victimization, about 22% of children reported that they have had at least one episode of bullying at school.On the other hand, about 12% of the children had cyberbullied others, and 11% of them reported having been cyber bullied during two months before the survey.
Conclusion:Evidence suggests that school – based intervention can be successful in reducing bullying – related behaviors if these interventions are based on a broad multidisciplinary approach and the participation of the entire school community. Also, the involvement of school staff in preventive interventions plays an essential role in the success of these programs.
Keywords: bullying, cyber bullying, children, HBSC,school-aged children.