Objective  To explore the prevalence and influencing factors of different bullying behaviors among high school students in Hunan province.

  Methods  Using stratified cluster sampling, we conducted a self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey among 9 156 students randomly selected from 32 high schools in 4 municipalities across Hunan province during April – July, 2018.

  Results  Of the 8 699 students with valid information, 13.7%, 1.9%, and 3.7% reported bullying victimization, perpetration, and both victimization and perpetration; the overall prevalence rate of bullying was 19.3% among the respondents. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male gender, playing violent games frequently, and lack of perceived safety in school were the common risk factors for the three types of bullying behaviors. Compared with the those with introvert personality, the respondents with intermediate personality were less likely to being bullying victims (odds ratio OR = 0.82) and bully-victims (OR = 0.54). In comparison with those from intact families, the students from single-parent families and remarried/foster families were at an increased risk of being bully-victims (OR = 1.674, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.041 – 2.693 and OR = 1.968, 95% CI: 1.291 – 2.998).

  Conclusion  The influencing factors of school bullying behavior are different for bullies, victims, and bully-victims and targeted interventions need to be developed for the prevention of bullying among high school students in Hunan province.