TY - JOUR
T1 - Bullying among urban Mexican-heritage youth
T2 - Exploring risk for substance use by status as a bully, victim, and bully-victim
AU - Sangalang, Cindy C.
AU - Tran, Giac-Thao
AU - Ayers, Stephanie L.
AU - Marsiglia, Flavio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 .
PY - 2016/2/1
Y1 - 2016/2/1
N2 - Little is known about adolescent bullying behavior and its relationship to substance use in ethnic minority populations. In a sample of youth of Mexican heritage, the current study aimed to examine the prevalence of bullying behavior subtypes and its co-occurrence with recent alcohol, cigarette, and inhalant use. Data come from a school-based substance use prevention study in the Southwestern U.S. (n = 809). We explored the prevalence of bullying behavior by status among youth classified as bullies, victims, bully-victims, and rarely-involved bully-victims in an urban context. We also investigated risk of past 30-day use of alcohol, cigarettes, and inhalants by bullying behavior status. Compared to non-involved youth, rarely-involved bully-victims were more likely to use alcohol, bullies were more likely to engage in alcohol and cigarette use, and bully-victims were more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, and inhalants. In contrast, victims were not significantly at risk of substance use compared to non-involved youth. Chronic bullies and bully-victims are particularly at risk for substance use, with chronic bully-victims reflecting the greatest risk of using multiple substances. Prevention and early intervention programs aimed to reduce bullying can also work to decrease other risky behaviors, such as substance use, and should attend to the growing ethnic diversity among youth.
AB - Little is known about adolescent bullying behavior and its relationship to substance use in ethnic minority populations. In a sample of youth of Mexican heritage, the current study aimed to examine the prevalence of bullying behavior subtypes and its co-occurrence with recent alcohol, cigarette, and inhalant use. Data come from a school-based substance use prevention study in the Southwestern U.S. (n = 809). We explored the prevalence of bullying behavior by status among youth classified as bullies, victims, bully-victims, and rarely-involved bully-victims in an urban context. We also investigated risk of past 30-day use of alcohol, cigarettes, and inhalants by bullying behavior status. Compared to non-involved youth, rarely-involved bully-victims were more likely to use alcohol, bullies were more likely to engage in alcohol and cigarette use, and bully-victims were more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, and inhalants. In contrast, victims were not significantly at risk of substance use compared to non-involved youth. Chronic bullies and bully-victims are particularly at risk for substance use, with chronic bully-victims reflecting the greatest risk of using multiple substances. Prevention and early intervention programs aimed to reduce bullying can also work to decrease other risky behaviors, such as substance use, and should attend to the growing ethnic diversity among youth.
KW - Bullying
KW - Mexican-heritage
KW - Substance use
KW - Youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962212475&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84962212475&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.12.019
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.12.019
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84962212475
SN - 0190-7409
VL - 61
SP - 216
EP - 221
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
ER -