Work

Weight status and bullying victimization in adolescents: Underweight boys face increased in-school victimization

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Research on the link between weight status and bullying victimization has overlooked underweight adolescents. This study aimed to assess the relationship between bullying victimization and weight status by covering the entire weight spectrum. Sex-specific patterns were investigated as well. I used data from a nationally representative sample of school attendees in Luxembourg (n = 9,432; MAGE = 14.8; SDAGE = 2.4; 48.6% female). Both in-school and cyberbullying victimization were examined. In addition to weight status and sex, 13 previously identified predictors of bullying victimization were used as control variables. Underweight was the sole weight status to be significantly associated with in-school bullying victimization: this relationship applied to males only (OR = 1.78; p < .001). Cyberbullying victimization was negligibly associated with weight status. The findings pertaining to in-school bullying victimization may partly reflect sex norms of Western societies; those pertaining to cyberbullying victimization, adolescents’ strategies in terms of online self-presentation.

Source: International Journal of Adolescence and Youth

DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2025.2495225

Author: Romain Brisson

Institution: University of Luxembourg

Language: English

Topic: Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,226