Victims and Perpetrators of Bullying in Physical Education Lessons: The Role of Peer Support, Weight Status, Gender, and Age in Polish Adolescents

Abstract

Physical education is a space in which adolescents may become the victims or perpetrators of bullying. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between being a victim or perpetrator of physical, verbal, or social bullying in physical education, and peer support, gender, weight status, and age. The sample consisted of 2, 848 adolescents (1, 512 girls and 1, 336 boys) aged 14–16 from Poland. The participants’ body mass index was determined based on their measured height and weight. The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children questionnaire was used to assess whether the participants were victims or perpetrators of bullying. Peer support during physical education was assessed using the modified Teacher and Classmate Support Scale. The analysis of logistic regressions revealed that low peer support increased the probability of being the victim of physical, verbal, and social bullying (odds ratio [ OR], 1.58–2.91) and becoming a perpetrator of bullying ( OR, 1.14–1.37) in physical education. Additionally, being overweight increased the likelihood of being a verbal victim ( OR, 1.39) and being obese raised the probability of becoming social victim ( OR, 1.60). Boys more often experienced ( OR, 1.12–2.06) and caused bullying ( OR, 1.25–1.89) than girls. Moreover, victims were mainly younger (14-year-old) students ( OR, 1.16–1.21), while perpetrators were more often older (15- and 16-year-old) adolescents ( OR, 1.12–1.20). This research indicated that peer support can play a key role in preventing bullying in physical education. Physical education teachers should pay special attention to unpopular and rejected students because they most often become the victims and perpetrators of bullying. Creating a climate that fosters the development of high peer support might protect adolescents from becoming a victim—and a perpetrator—of bullying in physical education.