Abstract
BACKGROUND: The link between school bullying and eating disorders is a complex issue that is poorly understood globally, and is further complicated by the distinct cultural nuances within China. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the association between different types of bullying and the risk of eating disorders among college students in Shantou City, China. Additionally, this study explores the mediating role of body dissatisfaction in the relationships between bullying roles and the risk of eating disorders. METHODS: The present study employed a convenience sampling technique to recruit college students aged 16 years or older from a university in Shantou. The survey encompassed socio-demographic data, as well as measures of bullying and the risk of eating disorders. Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, logistic regression, chi-square test, and mediation analysis were used to analyze the results. RESULTS: A total of 1643 students were investigated in this study, revealing a prevalence of the risk of eating disorders at 29.21%. Additionally, the prevalence of bullying was found to be 5.78% for bullies, 24.83% for victims, and 28.36% for bully-victims. Furthermore, all types of bullying showed a significant positive correlation with the risk of eating disorders. Notably, gender differences were observed in the associations among social manipulation, cyber victimization, cyber perpetration, and the risk of eating disorders, with males exhibiting stronger correlations. Body dissatisfaction plays a mediating role between bullying-victims and the risk of eating disorders. CONCLUSIONS: A positive association has been observed between the type of school bullying and the risk of eating disorders among college students in Shantou. Additionally, gender and body dissatisfaction have been identified as significant factors that contribute to the relationship between school bullying and the risk of eating disorders.