Influência do BULLYING na qualidade de vida de escolares com má oclusão: um estudo piloto

Abstract

Introduction: Bullying is an aggressive behavior that is performed repeatedly over time in a relationship with power imbalance. Bullying among children and adolescents usually occurs at school, and studies have found links between bullying and some mental and physical health problems, poor school performance and crime. Malocclusion affects not only oral function and appearance, but also has social and psychological effects, and is therefore considered a public health problem. The demand for orthodontic treatment is mainly motivated by personal concerns about appearance and other psychosocial factors. Objective: To investigate the influence of bullying on the quality of life of schoolchildren with malocclusion. Methods: Questionnaires on bullying and quality of life to oral health (Child Perceptions Questionnaire - CPQ) were used for 65 classes from 8 to 10 years and 92 classes from 11 to 14 years in public and private schools in the city of Aracaju. Results: There was no statistically significant difference as to the report of bullying between age groups, sex, type of school, or as to the reason for bullying; there was a statistical difference in the items emotional well-being and in the item social well- being of the CPQ’s, in groups 1 and 2, respectively, for those who reported being bullied for any reason. Conclusion: There is an influence of bullying suffered in the school environment on the quality of life of Aracajuan schoolchildren between 8 and 14 years old, with regard to, mainly, their socio-emotional well-being.