Bullying, especially in developing countries, has not been much examined, especially the influence of
parents on the risk of being bullied. The aim of this study was to determine whether active parenting is associated
with reduced peer victimization among middle-school students in North Africa. A secondary analysis of data from
more than 13 000 middle-school students who participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey
(GSHS) in Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia between 2006 and 2008, was conducted using multiple logistic
regression models. About 60% of students in Egypt and one-third of students in Libya, Morocco and Tunisia reported
having been bullied in the past month. In all 4 countries, boys reported more peer victimization than girls. In Egypt,
Morocco and Tunisia, students who reported that their parents checked their homework, were understanding, and
knew how the student spent free time had a reduced likelihood of peer victimization but this association was not
significant in Libya. Interventions for reducing bullying should consider the positive impact of involved parents.