THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BULLYING AND PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

Bullying is a public health problem which can impact both physical and psychosocial health of the children involved. The research on school bullying and its impact on Thai children's mental health is limited. This cross sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of bullying and the association between bullying and psychosocial problems among primary school students in Bangkok, Thailand. We conducted a survey among 368 students, aged 9-14 years, in three public primary schools during August 2011, using one-step cluster sampling method. The Thai version of the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire was used to assess bullying involvement. Psychosocial problems were assessed using the Thai version of Child Behavioral Checklist (Thai Youth Checklist), parental version. A total of 253. students (68.7%) reported involvement in bullying over the preceding 2-3 months (4.3% as a bully, 34% as a victim, and 30.4% as a bully victim). A multivariate analysis revealed that being a bully was associated with having separated or divorced parents (AOR=5.0; 95% CI: 1.2-19.7), while being a bully-victim was associated with male gender (AOR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.3-4.3). Being a bully was associated with externalizing problems (AOR=4.5; 95% CI: 2.7-78.1), whereas being a bully-victim was associated with both internalizing and externalizing problems (AOR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.1-4.6; and AOR=3.8; 95% CI: 1.6-8.8, respectively). In conclusion, school bullying in Thailand is a severe problem and is significantly associated with psychosocial problems. Effective strategies for its prevention and management are urgently needed.