Bullying Vulnerability among Adolescents Reporting Food Allergies: A Nationwide US Study.

Abstract

Adolescents with food allergies (FA) face unique challenges, including an increased risk of bullying, yet comprehensive national studies on this intersection are lacking. Our study examines the prevalence and association between FA and bullying among US high-school adolescents, utilizing Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2015-2019) data. Analyzing responses from 27,781 adolescents, we found that 19.1% reported on-campus bullying, and 14.9% reported electronic bullying, while 15.8% reported FA. Food allergy was significantly more common among those who reported bullying (23% vs. 13.9%, p < .001). Logistic regressions revealed that adolescents with FA were more likely to experience on-campus (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.51, 95% CI 1.35-1.69) and electronic bullying (AOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.27-1.58) compared to their peers without FA. These findings underscore the vital role of school nurses in identifying and addressing bullying among FA adolescents, thereby ensuring supportive environments, promoting well-being, and fostering academic success.