Disparities in bullying victimization: risk and protective factors for Asian American adolescents

Bullying adversely affects adolescent health. National surveillance indicates that about 1 in 5 U.S. high school students report bullying on school property. Cross‑sectional, secondary analysis of the 2019–2020 Student Drug Use Survey from a midwestern metropolitan area. Participants were grades 7–12 Asian American youth (N = 2,332). Bullying (yes/no) and psychosocial covariates (prosocial activities, risky behaviors, parent and school factors) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate odds ratios, and multivariate logistic regression. Bullying prevalence was 4.4% (n = 102). Seventh – eighth graders reported 6.3% vs 3.2% among ninth – twelfth graders. In adjusted models, grade level, lower prosocial activities, and higher risky behaviors were associated with bullying (AORs ≈2.58, 1.63, and 3.08; all p < 0.05); sex, parent, and school factors were not significant. Among Asian American youth, bullying prevalence was modest overall but varied by grade level and clustered with lower prosocial engagement and co‑occurring risky behaviors. Prevention should emphasize culturally responsive, early (middle‑school) programming that expands prosocial opportunities and screens for co‑occurring risks.