NCJ Number
194434
Journal
Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 2/3 Dated: 2001 Pages: 95-121
Date Published
2001
Length
27 pages
Annotation
In this study, depression and anxiety were investigated as psychosocial correlates to victim, bully and bully-victim behavior.
Abstract
Data presented in this paper were from the first 2 years of a 5 year longitudinal study. Preliminary results demonstrated psychosocial differences among bully-victims, bullies, victims, and students without bully-victim issues. Although most research had examined the association between victims and depression, some research has found an association between bullying behavior and depression. In the present study, 133 sixth grade students ages 11-13 completed surveys, including the Bully Survey, that asked questions about school discipline of bullying, motivation for bullying, and the context in which bullying occurred. Modified peer and teacher nomination inventories were also used to identify victims, bullies victim-bullies, or non-status students. The Children's Depression Inventory and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children were used to measure depression and anxiety respectively. Preliminary results suggested that the prevalence of depression was greatest among bullies (42 percent) followed by bully-victims (30 percent). Only 13.5 percent of victims met the criteria for depression. In contrast, victims scored highest for anxiety (19.2 percent), followed by bully-victims (17.5 percent). The researchers concluded that bully-victims were the most impaired group since they scored high on both the depression and anxiety inventories and experienced the greatest amount of physical symptoms of anxiety. The researchers recommend that future bullying interventions address the psychological needs of victims and bullies. References