Bullying Linked to Serious Unintentional Physical Injury Among Adolescents in the Philippines

Strategic Insights -

According to a recent study published in the Injury journal, bullying is a significant factor associated with serious unintentional physical injury, road traffic injury, and near drowning experience among adolescents in the Philippines. The 2019 Philippines Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) found that almost half of the participants had experienced a serious unintentional physical injury, and more than one in three had experienced near drowning. The study identified various sociodemographic, protective, and psychosocial factors associated with these injuries, which can aid in targeting injury prevention among adolescents in the Philippines.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that male sex, food insecurity, psychological distress, suicide attempt, current drug use, and bullying victimization were positively associated with serious unintentional physical injury and road traffic injury.
  • Soft drink intake, fast-food consumption, and not always wearing a seatbelt were also associated with road traffic injury.
  • Being religious or spiritual, psychological distress, and current drug use were associated with near drowning experience.
  • Causal mediation analyses found a significant indirect effect of substance use on serious injury count via types of bullied, physically attacked, and physical fights.
  • Almost half of the participants had a serious unintentional physical injury, and more than one in three had experienced near drowning.
  • The study identified various sociodemographic, protective, and psychosocial factors associated with these injuries, including higher parental support, being 15 to 18 years old, and being religious or spiritual.
  • The findings suggest that targeting injury prevention among adolescents in the Philippines should consider these associated factors.

Statistics:

  • 51.1% of participants experienced a serious unintentional physical injury (Prevalence and associated factors of serious unintentional physical injury, road traffic injury and near drowning experience among a nationally representative sample of school-aged adolescents in the Philippines in 2019. Injury, 2025;56(8):112463).
  • 35.1% of participants experienced near drowning (Prevalence and associated factors of serious unintentional physical injury, road traffic injury and near drowning experience among a nationally representative sample of school-aged adolescents in the Philippines in 2019. Injury, 2025;56(8):112463).
  • The indirect effect of substance use on serious injury count via types of bullied explained 5.9% (Prevalence and associated factors of serious unintentional physical injury, road traffic injury and near drowning experience among a nationally representative sample of school-aged adolescents in the Philippines in 2019. Injury, 2025;56(8):112463).
  • The indirect effect of substance use on serious injury count via physically attacked explained 42.8% (Prevalence and associated factors of serious unintentional physical injury, road traffic injury and near drowning experience among a nationally representative sample of school-aged adolescents in the Philippines in 2019. Injury, 2025;56(8):112463).
  • The indirect effect of substance use on serious injury count via physical fights explained 54.5% (Prevalence and associated factors of serious unintentional physical injury, road traffic injury and near drowning experience among a nationally representative sample of school-aged adolescents in the Philippines in 2019. Injury, 2025;56(8):112463).

Sources:

  • Prevalence and associated factors of serious unintentional physical injury, road traffic injury and near drowning experience among a nationally representative sample of school-aged adolescents in the Philippines in 2019. Injury, 2025;56(8):112463.
  • Mahidol University. [Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health].