This exploratory and cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence of bullying in a group of students and analyze the data regarding the gender of those involved in the violence. A questionnaire adapted from Olweus was applied in seven elementary education schools in Portugal. The sample consisted of 387 students between 7 and 14 years old. Data are presented in terms of descriptive statistics and differences between proportions were analyzed using chi-square tests. The gender analysis of victimization and aggression shows that boys and girls are both victims and aggressors, and there are significant differences in involvement in bullying between genders and the roles played. Boys are victims more often when considering different types of bullying, although significant differences were only found for physical aggression. Strategies that include gender roles are a priority for prevention and careful attention to this phenomenon in the school context. The questions addressed contribute to a broader understanding of the phenomenon, emphasizing the differential participation of boys and girls in bullying.

Resumo: A COVID-19, doença provocada pelo SARS-CoV-2 (novo coronavírus), surgiu na China em dezembro de 2019 e se espalhou rapidamente por todo o mundo. Diante desse cenário, este estudo objetivou identificar o impacto ou os efeitos da pandemia da COVID-19 na saúde dos adolescentes. Trata-se de uma revisão da literatura do tipo scoping review valendo-se das seguintes bases de dados: Web of Science; CINAHL; PsycINFO; SciELO; PUBCOVID19. O estudo seguiu as etapas propostas pelo Instituto Joanna Briggs para scoping reviews, e a questão que orientou os procedimentos adotados foi construída pelo acrônimo PCC (população; conceito; contexto). Foram incluídos 11 artigos na revisão. Clinicamente, os adolescentes apresentam os mesmos sintomas da COVID-19 que os adultos acometidos pela doença. Verificou-se que a pandemia e as medidas sanitárias adotadas para controlar a contaminação são associadas a problemas de saúde mental em adolescentes. Especificamente, os adolescentes têm vivenciado de forma negativa as medidas de distanciamento social e fechamento das escolas. Essas medidas também podem favorecer a ocorrência de violências ou comportamentos agressivos no contexto doméstico. Serviços de saúde que atendem a população adolescente precisaram reorientar as práticas de cuidado, adotando o modelo virtual em substituição ao cuidado presencial, e mesmo as pesquisas precisaram ser repensadas. Esta scoping review abordou um tema emergente em relação a uma população pouco considerada nos estudos sobre a COVID-19. Os resultados sugerem que a situação de pandemia pode ser considerada um determinante que afeta diferentes dimensões da vida dos adolescentes.

To estimate the prevalence of bullying among Brazilian students from the aggressor's perspective and to analyze its association with individual and contextual variables. This was a cross-sectional population-based study carried out with data from the National Survey on Student Health. A total of 109,104 students attending eight grade in public and private schools were included. Data were collected through a self-applied questionnaire. A model of association between bullying and variables in the following domains was tested: sociodemographics, risk behaviors, mental health, and family context. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed. The prevalence of aggressors in bullying situations was 20.8%. The following variables remained associated in the final multivariate model: male gender (OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.79-1.94), lower participation of 16-year-old students (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.53-0.82), and students from private schools (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.27-1.39). Most aggressors reported feeling lonely (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16-1.28), insomnia episodes (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.14-1.29), and a high prevalence of physical violence in the family (OR: 1.97 95% CI: 1.87-2.08). Aggressors missed classes more frequently (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.40-1.51), and they regularly consumed more tobacco (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.12-1.31), alcohol (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.77-1.92), and illegal drugs (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.79-2.04); they also demonstrated increased sexual intercourse (OR: 1.49 95% CI: 1.43-1.55) and regular exercise (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.16-1.25). The data indicate that bullying is an important aspect that affects the learning-teaching process and the students' health.

This study’s objective was to verify whether improved social and emotional skills would reduce victimization among Brazilian 6th grade student victims of bullying. The targets of this intervention were victimized students; a total of 78 victims participated. A cognitive-behavioral intervention based on social and emotional skills was held in eight weekly sessions. The sessions focused on civility, the ability to make friends, self-control, emotional expressiveness, empathy, assertiveness, and interpersonal problem-solving capacity. Data were analyzed through Poisson regression models with random effects. Pre- and post-analyses reveal that intervention and comparison groups presented significant reduced victimization by bullying. No significant improvement was found in regard to difficulties in practicing social skills. Victimization reduction cannot be attributed to the program. This study contributes to the incipient literature addressing anti-bullying interventions conducted in developing countries and highlights the need for approaches that do not exclusively focus on the students’ individual aspects.

Objective: to identify the characteristics and reasons reported by Brazilian students for school bullying. Method: this cross-sectional study uses data from an epidemiological survey (National Survey of School Health) conducted in 2012. A total of 109,104 9th grade students from private and public schools participated. Data were collected through a self-applied questionnaire and the analysis was performed using SPSS, version 20, Complex Samples Module. Results: the prevalence of bullying was 7.2%, most frequently affecting Afro-descendant or indigenous younger boys, whose mothers were characterized by low levels of education. In regard to the reasons/causes of bullying, 51.2% did not specify; the second highest frequency of victimization was related to body appearance (18.6%); followed by facial appearance (16.2%); race/color (6.8%); sexual orientation 2.9%; religion 2.5%; and region of origin 1.7%. The results are similar to those found in other sociocultural contexts. Conclusion: the problem belongs to the health field because it gathers aspects that determine the students' health-disease-care continuum.