Self-esteem level of Brazilian teenagers victims of bullying and its relation with the need of orthodontic treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study was to analyze self-esteem among Brazilian adolescents and also verify possible associations between the variables: the need for orthodontic treatment and bullying.Methods: The cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological study consisted of a sample composed of adolescents from 11 to 16 years of age, enrolled in the public school system of a medium-sized municipality in the northwest of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. A dental examination was performed using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) in order to verify the need for orthodontic treatment and a self-administered questionnaire containing the Global Self-Evaluation (GSE) indices to identify the level of self-esteem and Kidscape in order to detect bullying. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, association analysis and multivariate logistic regression.Results: A total of 815 adolescents participated in the study. There was a statistically significant association between self-esteem and the variables: sex (p <.0001), willingness to straighten teeth to improve appearance (p = 0.0006), bullying victim (p <.0001), frequency of bullying = 0.0111) and consequences of bullying (p <.0001). A significant risk factor for non-white adolescents' very negative self-esteem (OR = 1.914) was present together with bullying victims who had had negative consequences after the episode (OR = 3.343).Conclusion: There was an association between the self-esteem and bullying variables. Those who reported negative consequences on bullying were three times more likely to present very negative self-esteem, and the chances of non-white adolescents to show negative self-esteem were almost twice as high. There was no statistically significant association between self-esteem and the need for orthodontic treatment.

RESUMOObjetivo: Analisar o nível da autoestima de adolescentes brasileiros e verificar as possíveis associações de desfecho com a necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico e bullying.Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico transversal de base populacional. A população foi composta por adolescentes de 11 a 16 anos, matriculados na rede pública de ensino de um município de médio porte do noroeste paulista. Foi realizado um exame bucal utilizando o índice Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), para verificar a necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico, e um questionário autoaplicável, contendo os índices Global Self-Evaluation (GES), para identificar o nível de autoestima, e o Kidscape, para detecção de bullying. A análise dos dados foi feita utilizando estatística descritiva, análises de associação e regressão logística multivariada.Resultados: No total, 815 adolescentes participaram da pesquisa. Houve associação estatisticamente significante entre autoestima e as variáveis: sexo (p<.0001), vontade de corrigir os dentes para melhorar a aparência (p=0.0006), vítima de bullying (p<.0001), frequência com que sofreu bullying (p=0.0111) e consequências do bullying (p<.0001). Apresentaram-se como fator de risco significante para uma autoestima muito negativa a cor da pele não branca (OR=1.914) e vítimas de bullying que tiveram consequências negativas após o episódio (OR= 3.343).Conclusão: Houve associação entre as variáveis autoestima e bullying. Aqueles que relataram consequências negativas sobre o bullying apresentaram chances três vezes maiores de ter autoestima muito negativa, já as chances dos adolescentes com cor da pele não branca foram quase duas vezes maiores. Não houve associação estatisticamente significante entre autoestima e necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico.