NCJ Number
216962
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 46 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 40-49
Date Published
January 2007
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study set out to assess the association between bullying behavior and depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal attempts among adolescents.
Abstract
An association was found between bullying behavior and depression, serious suicidal ideation (SSI), and suicide attempts among high school students. Most bullying behavior occurred in school compared with away from school. Bullying behavior was more prevalent among boys than girls which were consistent with previous studies. Depression, SSI, and suicide attempts were significantly associated with victimization and with bullying others both in and away from school. The findings are consistent with reports that bullies, not just victims, are at higher risk of depression and suicide ideation and attempts. The results suggest a different gender threshold in victimization. Among girls, victimization at any frequency increased the risk of depression and suicide ideation and attempts. Among boys, only frequent victimization increased the risk of depression and suicide ideation. Nearly one-third of 6th through 10th graders in the United States have reported moderate or frequent involvement in bullying, whether as a bully, a victim, or both. The differentiation between bullies, victims, and bully-victims has been emphasized in the examination of the association of bullying behavior and psychopathology. There is no known United States study of adolescents focusing on bullying behavior and suicide attempts among victims, bullies, and bully-victims. This study examined the association between bullying behavior and depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among a large sample of American high school students. Tables, references