Bullying Victimization and Unprotected Sex Among School-Going Adolescents in Argentina: Moderating Role of Parental Emotional Support

Abstract

Bullying, both traditional and cyber, is a pervasive issue affecting adolescents, leading to mental health issues and risky sexual behaviors. This study investigates the sex-specific relationship between bullying victimization and unprotected sex among school-going adolescents in Argentina, examining the moderating role of parental emotional support. Secondary data from the 2018 Argentina Global School-based Student Health Survey was analyzed, including 25,892 sexually active adolescents aged 12-17. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between traditional bullying/cyberbullying and unprotected sex, stratified by sex. The moderating effect of parental emotional support was examined among bullying victims. Traditional bullying was higher among male students (27% vs. 23% in females) and was associated with higher odds of unprotected sex among males (AOR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.75) but not among females. Cyberbullying was higher among females (21% vs. 14% in males) and significantly increased the likelihood of unprotected sex among females (AOR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.74) but not among males. Parental emotional support showed a protective effect against unprotected sex for cyberbullied females (AOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.96) but not for traditionally bullied adolescents of either sex. The study reveals gender-specific associations between bullying victimization and unprotected sex among Argentine adolescents. Parental emotional support appears to moderate this relationship, particularly for cyberbullied females. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive interventions addressing both bullying prevention and sexual health education, emphasizing the importance of parental support in mitigating risky sexual behaviors among bullied adolescents.