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Bullying may have a considerable negative impact on health and well-being. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies investigating exposure to bullying in the general population. Thus, we aimed to assess the prevalence of lifetime exposure to bullying in the adult Norwegian population and to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and physical and psychological health problems between bullied and non-bullied.

We measured lifetime exposure to bullying in the general Norwegian population using a self-report questionnaire. The study was part of a cross-sectional national health survey (n = 1733) conducted in 2014-2015, to which a probability sample of people in the general population was recruited. Reports on socio-demographic data, HRQoL and a wide range of mental and somatic health problems provided the basis for a comparison of those who were bullied with those who were not. Chi square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations with lifetime exposure to bullying.

Across age groups, 28.2% reported exposure to bullying during their lifespan. Adjusted for other variables, the odds of bullying were higher in younger age groups, for those who lived as singles, and for those who were not working or in education. Respondents who had been bullied reported more mental problems such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, eating disorder, psychosis, self-harm, and suicide attempts, and they had lower HRQoL. They also reported more chronic pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and musculoskeletal-, respiratory- and gastrointestinal diseases than people who had not been exposed to bullying.

Bullying is common in the general Norwegian population, where more than a quarter of respondents had experienced exposure to bullying during their lifespan. Substantial more mental and somatic health problems among those exposed to bullying require a broad effort against bullying in central arenas in society.