Bullying, depression, and suicidality in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between bullying behavior and depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among adolescents.


METHODS
A self-report survey was completed by 9th- through 12th-grade students (n = 2342) in six New York State high schools from 2002 through 2004. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between being victimized and bullying others with depression, ideation, and attempts.


RESULTS
Approximately 9% of the sample reported being victimized frequently, and 13% reported bullying others frequently. Frequent exposure to victimization or bullying others was related to high risks of depression, ideation, and suicide attempts compared with adolescents not involved in bullying behavior. Infrequent involvement in bullying behavior also was related to increased risk of depression and suicidality, particularly among girls. The findings indicate that both victims and bullies are at high risk and that the most troubled adolescents are those who are both victims and bullies. Psychopathology was associated with bullying behavior both in and away from school.


CONCLUSIONS
Victimization and bullying are potential risk factors for adolescent depression and suicidality. In evaluations of students involved in bullying behavior, it is important to assess depression and suicidality.
Brunstein Klomek
Anat
A
Drs. Brunstein Klomek, Marrocco, and Gould, and Ms. Kleinman are with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University; Dr. Schonfeld is with City College, City University of New York, and the Child Psychiatry Research Training Program, Columbia University; Dr. Gould is also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Marrocco
Frank
F
Drs. Brunstein Klomek, Marrocco, and Gould, and Ms. Kleinman are with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University; Dr. Schonfeld is with City College, City University of New York, and the Child Psychiatry Research Training Program, Columbia University; Dr. Gould is also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Kleinman
Marjorie
M
Drs. Brunstein Klomek, Marrocco, and Gould, and Ms. Kleinman are with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University; Dr. Schonfeld is with City College, City University of New York, and the Child Psychiatry Research Training Program, Columbia University; Dr. Gould is also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Schonfeld
Irvin S
IS
Drs. Brunstein Klomek, Marrocco, and Gould, and Ms. Kleinman are with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University; Dr. Schonfeld is with City College, City University of New York, and the Child Psychiatry Research Training Program, Columbia University; Dr. Gould is also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Gould
Madelyn S
MS
Drs. Brunstein Klomek, Marrocco, and Gould, and Ms. Kleinman are with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University; Dr. Schonfeld is with City College, City University of New York, and the Child Psychiatry Research Training Program, Columbia University; Dr. Gould is also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute.. Electronic address: GouldM@childpsych.columbia.edu.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires