Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China
Background Bullying is one of the most important factors associated with child abuse. However, robust tests supporting the assumption that being bullied can contribute to child sexual abuse (CSA) among left-behind children (LBC) remain sparse. This study aims to investigate the association of bullyi...
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-06-01
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| author | Li Yan Qianqian Zhu Xiaowen Tu Xiayun Zuo Chunyan Yu Chaohua Lou Qiguo Lian |
| author_facet | Li Yan Qianqian Zhu Xiaowen Tu Xiayun Zuo Chunyan Yu Chaohua Lou Qiguo Lian |
| author_sort | Li Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Bullying is one of the most important factors associated with child abuse. However, robust tests supporting the assumption that being bullied can contribute to child sexual abuse (CSA) among left-behind children (LBC) remain sparse. This study aims to investigate the association of bullying victimization with CSA among LBC in China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in six middle schools of Sichuan and Anhui province in 2015. The bullying victimization was assessed by seven items from the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. The experience of CSA was measured by ten items CSA scale with good consistency. Results A total of 1,030 children met the sampling criteria, including 284 LBC and 746 non-LBC. The prevalence of CSA was 22.89% in LBC and 20.19% in non-LBC (p > 0.05). Bullying victimization was related to CSA among both LBC (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.52, 95% CI [1.34–4.73]) and non-LBC (aOR = 2.35, 95% CI [1.58–3.53]). The association between bullying victimization and CSA was much higher among left-behind girls (left-behind girls: aOR = 7.36, 95% CI [2.16–24.99]; non-left-behind girls: aOR = 2.38, 95% CI [1.08–5.27]). Also, LBC of a young age (11–15), children with siblings, living in rural areas and non-traditional family structure who were bullied were more likely to suffer CSA than their non-LBC peers. Conclusions Bullying victimization is associated with a significant increase in CSA among both LBC and non-LBC. Anti-bullying programs should target vulnerable populations including female LBC and LBC with siblings to reduce the risk of CSA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:53:16Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:53:16Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-862e6949e2d74238879dec701b81e6702023-12-03T10:14:49ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-06-016e486510.7717/peerj.4865Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in ChinaLi Yan0Qianqian Zhu1Xiaowen Tu2Xiayun Zuo3Chunyan Yu4Chaohua Lou5Qiguo Lian6Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaKey Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaBackground Bullying is one of the most important factors associated with child abuse. However, robust tests supporting the assumption that being bullied can contribute to child sexual abuse (CSA) among left-behind children (LBC) remain sparse. This study aims to investigate the association of bullying victimization with CSA among LBC in China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in six middle schools of Sichuan and Anhui province in 2015. The bullying victimization was assessed by seven items from the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. The experience of CSA was measured by ten items CSA scale with good consistency. Results A total of 1,030 children met the sampling criteria, including 284 LBC and 746 non-LBC. The prevalence of CSA was 22.89% in LBC and 20.19% in non-LBC (p > 0.05). Bullying victimization was related to CSA among both LBC (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.52, 95% CI [1.34–4.73]) and non-LBC (aOR = 2.35, 95% CI [1.58–3.53]). The association between bullying victimization and CSA was much higher among left-behind girls (left-behind girls: aOR = 7.36, 95% CI [2.16–24.99]; non-left-behind girls: aOR = 2.38, 95% CI [1.08–5.27]). Also, LBC of a young age (11–15), children with siblings, living in rural areas and non-traditional family structure who were bullied were more likely to suffer CSA than their non-LBC peers. Conclusions Bullying victimization is associated with a significant increase in CSA among both LBC and non-LBC. Anti-bullying programs should target vulnerable populations including female LBC and LBC with siblings to reduce the risk of CSA.https://peerj.com/articles/4865.pdfSchool bullyingLeft-behind childrenChild sexual abuse |
| spellingShingle | Li Yan Qianqian Zhu Xiaowen Tu Xiayun Zuo Chunyan Yu Chaohua Lou Qiguo Lian Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China PeerJ School bullying Left-behind children Child sexual abuse |
| title | Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China |
| title_full | Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China |
| title_fullStr | Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China |
| title_short | Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China |
| title_sort | bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left behind and non left behind children in china |
| topic | School bullying Left-behind children Child sexual abuse |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/4865.pdf |
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