Fear of Bullying and Its Effects on Mental Health among College Students: An Emerging Public Health Issue

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper is to determine the prevalence of fear of bullying among college students, examine socio-demographic predictors of fear of bullying, and assess associations between fear of bullying and depression and anxiety. A cross-sectional study was conducted among college students. Data on socio-demographics; fear of bullying on campus, off campus, and electronically; depression; and anxiety were collected. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of fear and the association between fear of bullying and mental health. After controlling for covariates, the odds of fear of bullying on campus, off-campus, and electronic bullying were higher among transgender/gender nonconforming and lesbian/gay/bisexual students. Non-citizens had higher odds of all three types of fear. Fear of bullying on campus, off campus, and electronic bullying were all associated with anxiety and depression. Disparities in fear of bullying exist in college students and should be considered when designing mental health interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Bullying
• fear
• minority health
• depression
• anxiety

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data sharing

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, EGG, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a CRASE Interdisciplinary Action Grant through USF.

Notes on contributors

Erin G. Grinshteyn

Erin G. Grinshteyn is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Her primary research interest relates to fear of crime and fear of violent victimization, and the association of fear with health outcomes. She is particularly interested in population-based health disparities associated with fear of violence and does work examining neighborhood characteristics associated with fear of victimization.

Reid Whaley

Reid Whaley graduated with a B.A. in Communication from University of California, Santa Barbara in 2017 and an MPH from University of San Francisco in 2019, where she was awarded the Dean’s Medal of her graduating class. Reid is currently a project assistant in the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California helping to investigate the unique risk factors of nicotine and tobacco use and dependence. Reid’s research interests relate to the effect of health messaging on substance use patterns, the relationship between one's social network and health risk behaviors, and public mental health. Reid’s broad research interests relate to the effect of health messaging on substance use patterns, the relationship between one’s social network and health risk behaviors, and public mental health.

Marie-Claude Couture

Marie-Claude Couture is an epidemiologist and an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Professions (SONHP). She has been involved in research for more than fifteen years where she has built a solid academic background in epidemiology and public health with a specific interest in HIV/STI prevention, substance use, violence, sexual and reproductive health in vulnerable populations and more recently in college students. She has several years of research experience working on HIV/STI and substance use prevention projects in low and middle-income countries, but also locally in California. Dr. Couture is an author of more than twenty-five peer-reviewed articles and has had presentations at different national and international scientific meetings.