Bullying Victimization and its associated Factors among Adolescents in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia: A Cross-sectional Study

Bullying is a pervasive issue among adolescents, impacting their psychological and social well-being. In Indonesia, where adolescent bullying is widespread, there is limited research on the factors influencing bullying victimization, particularly within specific cultural contexts.

This study aims to examine the factors associated with bullying victimization among Indonesian adolescents.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 295 high school students in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Data were collected using self-reported surveys, including the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (OBVQ) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between bullying victimization and demographic, emotional, and behavioral factors were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and logistic regression.

Approximately 21.4% (n=63) of participants were identified as victims of bullying, with verbal bullying (31.5%), social exclusion (18.6%), and rumor-spreading (30.8%) being the most common types. Logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between bullying, victimization, and gender (OR = 0.438, 95% CI = 0.223–0.860, p = 0.016), with males at a lower risk. Emotional symptoms in the borderline range were associated with reduced odds of victimization (OR = 0.282, 95% CI = 0.086–0.293, p = 0.036), as were borderline conduct problems (OR = 0.241, 95% CI = 0.083–0.700, p = 0.009).

Bullying victimization in Indonesian adolescents is closely linked to gender, parental marital status, and emotional or behavioral factors. These findings highlight the need for culturally adapted interventions focused on relational aggression and support for at-risk students.