School-related stress experience as a risk factor for bullying behavior

Associations between bullying behavior and school-related stress experience , self-efficacy, social support, and decision control were explored in a st udy of 885 Norwegian adolescents aged 13-15 years. Information was based on self-reports. The psychosocial factors were represented by an average of s cores on 3-12 single items, each with 5 possible response categories. Bully ing behavior was defined as bullying other pupils sometimes or more often d uring the term. The prevalence of bullying behavior was 9.2%, but significa ntly higher among boys than girls. Odds ratios of bullying behavior accordi ng to psychosocial factors were calculated in a multiple logistic regressio n analysis. Increasing school alienation was associated with an increased r isk of bullying, whereas increasing support from teachers and peers decreas ed the risk. Increasing self-efficacy was associated with a significant inc rease in risk only among 14-year-old pupils, but a similar tendency was see n for 15-year-old pupils. No significant association was seen with decision control.