Socioeconomic Differences in the Association Between Bullying Behaviors and Mental Health in Canadian Adolescents

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Bullying and poverty are each associated with poor health in adolescents. We examined socioeconomic differences in the association of bullying and health. METHODS The 2017/2018 Canadian Health Behaviour of School‐aged Children study surveyed 21,750 youth (9‐18 years). We used linear regression models to investigate interactive effects of bullying involvement (traditional and cyberbullying) and socioeconomic position (SEP) on self‐reported life satisfaction, psychological symptoms, and physical symptoms. RESULTS Involvement in either form of bullying, as a perpetrator or a target, was associated with worse health and well‐being compared to uninvolved youths. Associations of victimization via conventional bullying with low life satisfaction (b = −.33 [−.61, .05]), more psychological symptoms (b = .83 [.27, 1.38]), and more somatic symptoms (b = .56 [.14, .98]) were stronger at lower SEP. CONCLUSION Socioeconomic disadvantage intensifies the association between bullying victimization and poor health. The intersections of victimization and poverty pose a significant health risk to adolescents.