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

• DOI: 10.1006/jado.2000.0351
• Publication Date: 2002-09-17T23:19:12Z
• Authors: RIITTAKERTTU KALT...; MATTI RIMPELÄ; PÄIVI RANTANEN; ARJA RIMPELÄ
• Keywords: Depression

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.