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Cited by 690Bullying, Victimization, and AggressionSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesWorkplace Violence and Bullying

Bullying and Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: A Meta-Analysis

Open access
Holt, Melissa K., Vivolo-Kantor, Alana M., Polanin, Joshua R., Holland, Kristin M., DeGue, Sarah, Matjasko, Jennifer L., Wolfe, Misty, Reid, Gerald·2015·Pediatrics
DOI 10.1542/peds.2014-1864PMC PMC4702491
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Over the last decade there has been increased attention to the association between bullying involvement (as a victim, perpetrator, or bully-victim) and suicidal ideation/behaviors. We conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the association between bullying involvement and suicidal ideation and behaviors. METHODS: We searched multiple online databases and reviewed reference sections of articles derived from searches to identify cross-sectional studies published through July 2013. Using search terms associated with bullying, suicide, and youth, 47 studies (38.3% from the United States, 61.7% in non-US samples) met inclusion criteria. Seven observers independently coded studies and met in pairs to reach consensus. RESULTS: Six different meta-analyses were conducted by using 3 predictors (bullying victimization, bullying perpetration, and bully/victim status) and 2 outcomes (suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors). A total of 280 effect sizes were extracted and multilevel, random effects meta-analyses were performed. Results indicated that each of the predictors were associated with risk for suicidal ideation and behavior (range, 2.12 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.67–2.69] to 4.02 [95% CI, 2.39–6.76]). Significant heterogeneity remained across each analysis. The bullying perpetration and suicidal behavior effect sizes were moderated by the study’s country of origin; the bully/victim status and suicidal ideation results were moderated by bullying assessment method. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrated that involvement in bullying in any capacity is associated with suicidal ideation and behavior. Future research should address mental health implications of bullying involvement to prevent suicidal ideation/behavior.

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Crossref · 10.1542/peds.2014-1864

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76 of 76 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • One review (Holt et al., 2015) found a significant moderating effect from the country of origin of the study in both bullying perpetration and victimization.

    “One review (Holt et al., 2015) found a significant moderating effect from the country of origin of the study in both bullying perpetration and victimization.”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Holt et al., 2015

    The Results (Meta-Analysis Findings) report a significant country-of-origin moderator for bullying perpetration and suicidal ideation, but state that none of the tested moderators was significant for bullying victimization with either outcome. The paper also reports a country effect for bully-victim status, which is distinct from victimization alone. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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  • Holt et al. (2015) found a pooled OR of 2.23 for the overall relationship between bullying victimization and suicide ideation.

    “Holt et al. (2015) and Van Geel et al. (2014) explored bullying victimization as a risk for suicidal ideation from 23 and 24 individual studies, respectively; the pooled OR was 2.23 and 2.34 for the overall relationship between bullying victimization and suicide ideation.”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Holt et al., 2015

    The Results (Meta-Analysis Findings) report that Holt et al. pooled 41 studies of bullying victimization and suicidal ideation and found an OR of 2.34, not 2.23. The paper mentions OR 2.23 when describing a previous meta-analysis; its figure of 23 studies concerns bullying perpetration and suicidal ideation. (LLM, conf=0.94)

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  • Holt et al. (2015) found a significant OR of 2.62 (95% CI, 1.51-4.55) for bullying perpetration and suicidal behavior.

    “They found a significant OR of 2.62 (95% CI, 1.51–4.55), indicating a 1.62-fold higher risk of suicidal behavior for youth who perpetrated bullying (Table 1).”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Holt et al., 2015

    The Results (Meta-Analysis Findings) report a statistically significant association between bullying perpetration and suicidal behavior with the stated OR of 2.62 and 95% CI of 1.51–4.55. The citing sentence’s interpretation is not supported: an OR of 2.62 means 2.62-fold higher odds, or 162% higher odds, not 1.62-fold higher risk. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • The OR ranged from 2.78 to 3.26 for the overall relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal behavior.

    “The OR ranged from 2.78 to 3.26 for the overall relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal behavior.”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Holt et al., 2015

    The Results (Meta-Analysis Findings; page unavailable) support an association between bullying victimization and suicidal behavior, but report an overall OR of 2.94 (95% CI, 2.36–3.67), not an OR range of 2.78–3.26. The stated range is not supported by the reported overall result. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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  • The meta-analysis included two reviews of 24 studies and one school global health survey resulted in a pooled OR of bully victimization to suicide attempts of 2.97 (95% CI 2.53-3.49, p < 0.0001).

    “The meta-analysis included two reviews of 24 studies (Holt et al., 2015; Van Geel et al., 2014) and one school global health survey (Koyanagi et al., 2019) resulted in a pooled OR of bully victimization to suicide attempts being 2.97 (95% C.I. 2.53–3.49, p < 0.0001) (Fig. 1).”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Holt et al., 2015

    Holt et al. is a meta-analysis of bullying and suicidality, so it supports its identification as one of the reviews used by the citing authors. Its Results (Preliminary Analyses; page unavailable) say it included 47 studies, not 24, and its Results (Meta-Analysis Findings; page unavailable) report an OR of 2.94 (95% CI 2.36–3.67) for victimization and suicidal behavior. The cited paper therefore does not support the stated 24-study description or the pooled OR of 2.97; the latter appears to be the citing authors’ own pooled result. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Cites

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1 of the 77 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [36]Holland KM Logan JE Vivolo-Kantor AM Westby R Bradshaw C Common Precipitators of Suicide Among Youth Aged 11–15 American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference April 11, 2014 Los Angeles, CA

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Authors
Holt, M. K., Vivolo-Kantor, A. M., Polanin, J. R., Holland, K. M., DeGue, S., Matjasko, J. L., Wolfe, M., & Reid, G.
Affiliations
  • Boston University (US)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
  • Vanderbilt University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Pediatrics
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Published
2015-02-01
Volume
135
Issue
2
Pages
e496-e509
ISSN
  • 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-4275
DOI
10.1542/peds.2014-1864
PMC
PMC4702491
OpenAlex
W2046705515
Cited by
675
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 67 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 77 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 80 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 67 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 14 · 2012: 1
FWCI
6.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (CC999999)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Workplace Violence and Bullying
Keywords
bullying, suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, bullying victimization, bullying perpetration, youth, suicide prevention
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Suicide, Suicide, Attempted, Precipitating Factors, Bullying, Suicidal Ideation

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