TY - JOUR
T1 - Pathways from bullying victimization to alcohol and tobacco use in South Korean adolescents
T2 - Findings from a nationally representative sample
AU - Kim, Dong Ha
AU - Hong, Jun Sung
AU - Wei, Hsi Sheng
AU - Lee, Jeoung Min
AU - Hahm, Hyeouk Chris
AU - Espelage, Dorothy L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the Society for Social Work and Research. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/9/1
Y1 - 2018/9/1
N2 - Objective: Tobacco and alcohol use among South Korean youths who are victims of bullying behavior is not well understood. This study examines the link between bullying victimization and alcohol and tobacco use through the mediating roles of internalizing behavior, school disengagement, and low academic performance in South Korean adolescents (ages 11–13 years). Method: Data are from the Korea Children and Youth Panel Study, a nationally representative sample of South Korean adolescents. Participants in the current analyses included 2,028 students from 78 randomly selected middle schools. Sociodemographic variables, bullying victimization, social withdrawal behavior, depression, school activity, school rules, academic achievement, and alcohol and tobacco use were measured. We used structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among bullying victimization, specified mediators, and alcohol and tobacco use. Results: Bullying victimization was associated with an increased risk of using alcohol and tobacco and was mediated by social withdrawal, depression, school disengagement, and low academic performance. Conclusions: Bullying victimization may be a risk factor for alcohol and tobacco use, particularly among youth who experience internalizing problems and low levels of school engagement. School-based preventive interventions aimed at reducing victimization and substance use should address these social and school factors.
AB - Objective: Tobacco and alcohol use among South Korean youths who are victims of bullying behavior is not well understood. This study examines the link between bullying victimization and alcohol and tobacco use through the mediating roles of internalizing behavior, school disengagement, and low academic performance in South Korean adolescents (ages 11–13 years). Method: Data are from the Korea Children and Youth Panel Study, a nationally representative sample of South Korean adolescents. Participants in the current analyses included 2,028 students from 78 randomly selected middle schools. Sociodemographic variables, bullying victimization, social withdrawal behavior, depression, school activity, school rules, academic achievement, and alcohol and tobacco use were measured. We used structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among bullying victimization, specified mediators, and alcohol and tobacco use. Results: Bullying victimization was associated with an increased risk of using alcohol and tobacco and was mediated by social withdrawal, depression, school disengagement, and low academic performance. Conclusions: Bullying victimization may be a risk factor for alcohol and tobacco use, particularly among youth who experience internalizing problems and low levels of school engagement. School-based preventive interventions aimed at reducing victimization and substance use should address these social and school factors.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Alcohol and tobacco use
KW - Bullying victimization
KW - Internalizing behaviors
KW - South Korea
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049999194&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/699187
DO - 10.1086/699187
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85049999194
SN - 2334-2315
VL - 9
SP - 395
EP - 411
JO - Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research
JF - Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research
IS - 3
ER -