Overweight, self-efficacy and bullying among adolescents in a secondary school in Ssisa, Wakiso district in Uganda

Abstract

This study was a quantitative, cross-sectional study that set out to examine the relationship between Overweight, Self-efficacy and Bullying among Adolescents in a Secondary School in Ssisa, Wakiso District in Uganda. A sample size of 216 students from a secondary school in Wakiso district with age between (10 and 19) years were selected. Self-report questionnaires were used to collect information to measure bullying and adolescents’ self-efficacy. The adolescents' weight and height were measured, and Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated to assess for overweight, obesity. A correlational design was employed in analysis. This study found a prevalence of overweight and obesity of 15.7% and 37% bullying prevalence in the secondary school. The results of the study demonstrated no significant relationship between overweight and bullying(r = -.021; p = .755). It also found that there was no significant relationship between overweight and self-efficacy(r = -.024; p =.800). The result revealed that there is a significant relationship between self-efficacy and bullying(r = .152; p =.025). However, there is a negative correlation; which means that as overweight/obesity increases, self-efficacy decreases. The prevalence of overweight/obesity adolescents is substantially high, and because of impaired self-efficacy and being bullied, this may lead to reduced quality of life of the adolescents in a secondary school.