Bullying affects an important number of students in school today. Following the concept of health defended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which focuses on physical, mental and social well-being, in this paper we will present some results of a study concerning the relation between involvement in bullying and some health behaviors (self-esteem, mental health, psychosomatic symptoms and substance use). Data were collected from a random sample, using the Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children (HBSC) used by the WHO, the Susan Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, a Peer Nomination Inventory and a Sociometric Questionnaire. A total of 581 Portuguese adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, who attended eleven public middle schools in the Lisbon region, were selected. The students were defined as bullies, victims, bully-victims and not involved, on the basis of the Peer Nomination Inventory. Results show a connection between these four groups and some health behaviors, providing a distinctive profile for each one. In general, bullies show a more positive health profile compared to victims, with the exception of substance use. Bully-victims show the most controversial profile, similar to bullies in their higher levels of self-esteem and self-confidence, but also similar to victims in their higher levels of rejection and weakness.

Educação, Sociedade e Culturas, N.º 38 (2013): Health education: perspectives and intervention contexts