I’m Siksik & I Know It: A Study on Bullying Among Overweight and Obese High School Students in Manila

Abstract

This study sought to determine the prevalence of bullying among overweight and obese high school students in Manila. A total of 395 respondents participated in the study, mostly female students with an average age of 15 years old. The respondents were selected purposively from four public high schools in Manila. After obtaining the informed consent, a validated questionnaire was administered that aimed to determine the prevalence of bullying, perceptions about overweight and obesity, forms of bullying and psycho-social effects of bullying. In-depth interviews were also conducted to ten selected respondents after completing the questionnaires. The study followed the sequential mixed method design and data were analyzed using statistical tests and qualitative techniques were themes and patterns of responses were determined and categorized. The results showed that majority of the respondents experienced bullying and half of them were bullied because of their weight status. Almost all of the study population knew what overweight and obesity means, as well as their Body Mass Index (BMI) that serves to be the indicator of body weight. Perpetrators of bullying were also identified and their classmates were made known to be the number one source of bullying. Verbal bullying appeared to be statistically significant with other forms of bullying and females were most likely prone to be the victims of it. There were no significant difference found between year levels of the participants and forms of bullying experienced. Moreover, anxiety was found to be the most common psychosocial effect of bullying to the respondents. This study concludes that bullying occurs among overweight and obese students and it has different and staggering effects that varies from gender to the year level of respondents.