Bullying at school--an indicator of adolescents at risk for mental disorders

J Adolesc. 2000 Dec;23(6):661-74. doi: 10.1006/jado.2000.0351.

Abstract

A number of 14-16 year old Finnish adolescents taking part in the School Health Promotion Study (n=8787 in 1995, n=17643 in 1997) were surveyed about bullying and victimization in relation to psychosomatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance use. A total of 9 per cent of girls and 17 per cent of boys were involved in bullying on a weekly basis. Anxiety, depression and psychosomatic symptoms were most frequent among bully-victims and equally common among bullies and victims. Frequent excessive drinking and use of any other substance were most common among bullies and thereafter among bully-victims. Among girls, eating disorders were associated with involvement in bullying in any role, among boys with being bully-victims. Bullying should be seen as an indicator of risk of various mental disorders in adolescence.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors