Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review

<h3 dir="ltr">Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">This systematic review examined the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors, and consequences of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries (AGC).</p><h3 dir="ltr">Subject and methods...

وصف كامل

محفوظ في:
التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
المؤلف الرئيسي: Amani N. Alansari (19743643) (author)
مؤلفون آخرون: Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary (11967181) (author), Hanan Youssif (22996315) (author), Mohmed Sayed Zaazouee (22467178) (author)
منشور في: 2025
الموضوعات:
الوسوم: إضافة وسم
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author Amani N. Alansari (19743643)
author2 Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary (11967181)
Hanan Youssif (22996315)
Mohmed Sayed Zaazouee (22467178)
author2_role author
author
author
author_facet Amani N. Alansari (19743643)
Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary (11967181)
Hanan Youssif (22996315)
Mohmed Sayed Zaazouee (22467178)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Amani N. Alansari (19743643)
Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary (11967181)
Hanan Youssif (22996315)
Mohmed Sayed Zaazouee (22467178)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-08-27T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1007/s10389-025-02576-0
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Prevalence_of_bullying_and_violence_among_adolescents_in_Arab_Gulf_countries_a_systematic_review/31056193
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Health sciences
Epidemiology
Health services and systems
Public health
Bullying
Violence
Adolescents
Arab Gulf countries
Systematic review
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <h3 dir="ltr">Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">This systematic review examined the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors, and consequences of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries (AGC).</p><h3 dir="ltr">Subject and methods</h3><p dir="ltr">We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from inception to April 2025. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Results</h3><p dir="ltr">A total of 16 cross-sectional studies from six Gulf countries were included. Findings revealed substantial bullying prevalence ranging from 12.6% to 83.28%, with verbal bullying (up to 89.4%) emerging as the predominant form, followed by physical (10.6-17.0%) and social bullying (approximately 6.0%). Educational settings constituted primary contexts for incidents, with specific high-risk locations identified, including corridors (54.8%), restrooms (17.5%), and classrooms (up to 80% in private schools). Gender-specific patterns were observed, with some studies reporting higher physical aggression among boys and others documenting increased psychological abuse and cyberbullying among girls. Mental health consequences were consistently significant, with bullied students demonstrating substantially increased risks of depression (OR 2.66) and anxiety (OR 2.89). Academic impacts included increased absenteeism (24–29%) and decreased performance.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h3><p dir="ltr">This review highlights the widespread prevalence and serious consequences of bullying among adolescents in AGC, with clear gender differences and significant impacts on mental health and academic performance. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored assessment approaches, gender-responsive interventions, integrated school-based mental health services, and culturally focused prevention strategies that address both traditional and cyberbullying in the rapidly evolving sociocultural context of the AGC.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Public Health<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02576-0" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02576-0</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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network_acronym_str Manara2
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spelling Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic reviewAmani N. Alansari (19743643)Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary (11967181)Hanan Youssif (22996315)Mohmed Sayed Zaazouee (22467178)Health sciencesEpidemiologyHealth services and systemsPublic healthBullyingViolenceAdolescentsArab Gulf countriesSystematic review<h3 dir="ltr">Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">This systematic review examined the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors, and consequences of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries (AGC).</p><h3 dir="ltr">Subject and methods</h3><p dir="ltr">We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from inception to April 2025. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Results</h3><p dir="ltr">A total of 16 cross-sectional studies from six Gulf countries were included. Findings revealed substantial bullying prevalence ranging from 12.6% to 83.28%, with verbal bullying (up to 89.4%) emerging as the predominant form, followed by physical (10.6-17.0%) and social bullying (approximately 6.0%). Educational settings constituted primary contexts for incidents, with specific high-risk locations identified, including corridors (54.8%), restrooms (17.5%), and classrooms (up to 80% in private schools). Gender-specific patterns were observed, with some studies reporting higher physical aggression among boys and others documenting increased psychological abuse and cyberbullying among girls. Mental health consequences were consistently significant, with bullied students demonstrating substantially increased risks of depression (OR 2.66) and anxiety (OR 2.89). Academic impacts included increased absenteeism (24–29%) and decreased performance.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h3><p dir="ltr">This review highlights the widespread prevalence and serious consequences of bullying among adolescents in AGC, with clear gender differences and significant impacts on mental health and academic performance. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored assessment approaches, gender-responsive interventions, integrated school-based mental health services, and culturally focused prevention strategies that address both traditional and cyberbullying in the rapidly evolving sociocultural context of the AGC.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Public Health<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02576-0" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02576-0</a></p>2025-08-27T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1007/s10389-025-02576-0https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Prevalence_of_bullying_and_violence_among_adolescents_in_Arab_Gulf_countries_a_systematic_review/31056193CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/310561932025-08-27T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
Amani N. Alansari (19743643)
Health sciences
Epidemiology
Health services and systems
Public health
Bullying
Violence
Adolescents
Arab Gulf countries
Systematic review
status_str publishedVersion
title Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
title_full Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
title_fullStr Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
title_short Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
title_sort Prevalence of bullying and violence among adolescents in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review
topic Health sciences
Epidemiology
Health services and systems
Public health
Bullying
Violence
Adolescents
Arab Gulf countries
Systematic review