Cited by 1,247Bullying, Victimization, and AggressionWorkplace Violence and BullyingChild Abuse and Trauma

Adult psychiatric outcomes of bullying and being bullied by peers in childhood and adolescence

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Copeland, William E., Wolke, Dieter, Angold, Adrian, Costello, E. Jane·2013·JAMA Psychiatry

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Both bullies and victims of bullying are at risk for psychiatric problems in childhood, but it is unclear if this elevated risk extends into early adulthood. OBJECTIVE: To test whether bullying and/or being bullied in childhood predicts psychiatric problems and suicidality in young adulthood after accounting for childhood psychiatric problems and family hardships. DESIGN: Prospective, population-based study. SETTING: Community sample from 11 counties in Western North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1420 participants who had being bullied and bullying assessed 4 to 6 times between the ages of 9 and 16 years. Participants were categorized as bullies only, victims only, bullies and victims (hereafter referred to as bullies/victims), or neither. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Psychiatric outcomes, which included depression, anxiety, antisocial personality disorder, substance use disorders, and suicidality (including recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or a suicide attempt), were assessed in young adulthood (19, 21, and 24-26 years) by use of structured diagnostic interviews. RESULTS Victims and bullies/victims had elevated rates of young adult psychiatric disorders, but also elevated rates of childhood psychiatric disorders and family hardships. After controlling for childhood psychiatric problems or family hardships, we found that victims continued to have a higher prevalence of agoraphobia (odds ratio [OR], 4.6 [95% CI, 1.7-12.5]; P < .01), generalized anxiety (OR, 2.7 [95% CI, 1.1-6.3]; P < .001), and panic disorder (OR, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.5-6.5]; P < .01) and that bullies/victims were at increased risk of young adult depression (OR, 4.8 [95% CI, 1.2-19.4]; P < .05), panic disorder (OR, 14.5 [95% CI, 5.7-36.6]; P < .001), agoraphobia (females only; OR, 26.7 [95% CI, 4.3-52.5]; P < .001), and suicidality (males only; OR, 18.5 [95% CI, 6.2-55.1]; P < .001). Bullies were at risk for antisocial personality disorder only (OR, 4.1 [95% CI, 1.1-15.8]; P < .04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The effects of being bullied are direct, pleiotropic, and long-lasting, with the worst effects for those who are both victims and bullies.

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  1. [25]American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) 1994 American Psychiatric Press, Inc. Washington, DC

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Authors
Copeland, W. E., Wolke, D., Angold, A., & Costello, E. J.
Affiliations
Duke University (US)
Corresponding author
Copeland, William E.
Venue
JAMA Psychiatry
Published
2013-04-01
Volume
70
Issue
4
Pages
419
ISSN
2168-622X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2122558763
Cited by
1,247
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 73 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 105 · 2023: 99 · 2022: 108 · 2021: 145 · 2020: 119 · 2019: 99 · 2018: 105 · 2017: 79 · 2016: 78 · 2015: 86 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 23
FWCI
122.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH-63671, R01MH063970, R01MH048085, MH-63970, K23MH080230, R01MH063671)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA011301)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P2CHD065563, R24HD065563)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Workplace Violence and Bullying
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
bullying, bullying victims, bullying perpetration, childhood bullying, mental health outcomes, early adulthood, depression, anxiety disorders, agoraphobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, suicidality, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, antisocial personality disorder, substance use disorders, family hardship, peer victimization, western North Carolina, community sample, gender differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Mental Disorders, Child, Family, Female, Humans, Male, Peer Group, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult, Bullying

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