Contrast profiles of bullying in Peru and Spain

Dear editor: We read with greatinterestthe article Bullying among schoolchildren: differences between victims and aggressors, recently published in Gaceta Sanitaria.1 Motivated by this study, we would like to share information about the characteristics of victims and aggressors of bullying in Peru after an extensive literature search about this underexplored topic in our country and attempt some comparisons versus Spain as well as some concluding remarks and recomendations. Bullying in Peru, as very likely in Spain, is a hidden and yet latent phenomenon. Moreover, it varies across regions in our country and profiles might be different than what is found in Spain. In a study conducted in an urban Lima school in 2007, victims usually had fewer friends, spent more time alone at recess and exhibited decreased self-confidence than non-victims.2 Similarly, another study conducted in in 2009 found that adolescents with any physical defects are more prone to being bullied, being excluded by aggressors and experience discriminative behaviors that cause impaired social image of the victim and generate rivalries with peers.3 In Peruvian rural areas adolescent victims tend to be picked on by peers, be very quiet, fearful and considered small and weak and not to respond to attacks.
Authors: Leiva Montejo, Angela; León Amenero, Gustavo; Lister del Pino, Patricia; Segura, Eddy R
Source: Gaceta Sanit.aria
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/311272