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Bullying increases risk for depression, anxiety in late adolescence

SAN DIEGO — Being bullied by peers has similar or worse long-term effects on mental health as being maltreated by adults, according to data presented here.

To compare mental health outcomes of bullying vs. adult maltreatment, Suzet T. Lereya, PhD, of the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, and colleagues assessed data for 4,026 children from the United Kingdom and 1,420 children from the United States. Mothers of children from the United Kingdom reported on maltreatment from pregnancy to age 9 years and children reported on bullying at ages 8, 10 and 12 years. Among children from the United States, maltreatment was determined via reports from children and their parents between ages 9 and 16 years. All children reported on mental health at age 18 years and ages 19 to 25 years.

Overall, 8.3% of children from the United Kingdom experienced maltreatment from adults, 30.1% experienced peer bullying and 6.7% experienced both. Among children in the United States, 15% experienced maltreatment, 16.3% experienced bullying and 9.8% experienced both.

Dieter Wolke

Children who were bullied were more likely to experience depression and anxiety compared with children who were maltreated by adults, with an overall risk of 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1-2.1) among the United Kingdom cohort and 3.8 (95% CI, 1.8-7.9) among the United States cohort.

Adjusted analysis indicated children who experienced bullying only had a significantly higher risk for poor mental health vs. those who only experienced maltreatment.

“Being bullied is not a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up; it has serious long-term consequences,” Dieter Wolke, PhD, of the University of Warwick, said in a press release. “It is important for schools, health services and other agencies to work together to reduce bullying and the adverse effects related to it.” – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Lereya ST, et al. Abstract #4540.4. Presented at: Pediatric Academic Societies 2015; April 25-28, 2015; San Diego.

Disclosure: Infectious Diseases in Children could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.