title: Bullying victimization in childhood predicts inflammation and obesity at mid-life: a five-decade birth cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to test whether childhood bullying victimization increases risk for age-related disease at mid-life using biological markers including inflammation and adiposity, independent of other childhood risk factors and key adult variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was a 50-year prospective longitudinal birth cohort study of all births in Britain in 1 week in 1958. Exposure to bullying was assessed prospectively when participants were aged 7 and 11 years (27.7% occasionally bullied; 14.6% frequently bullied). Blood inflammation biomarkers [C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen] and adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and waist:hip ratio] were measured at age 45 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants who had been frequently bullied in childhood showed increased levels of CRP at mid-life [β = 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.10] and higher risk for clinically relevant inflammation cut-off [CRP > 3 mg/l: 20.4% v. 15.9%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, 95% CI 1.12-1.64]. Women who were bullied in childhood had higher BMI than non-bullied participants and were at increased risk of being obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2: occasionally bullied: 26.0% v. 19.4%, OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.18-1.77; frequently bullied: 26.2% v. 19.4%, OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.09-1.83). Findings remained significant when controlling for childhood risk factors (e.g. parental social class; participants' BMI and psychopathology in childhood) and key adult variables (e.g. adult social class, smoking, diet and exercise).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bullied children show increases in risk factors for age-related disease in middle adulthood, independent of co-occurring childhood and adult risks. Given the high prevalence of bullying victimization in childhood, tackling this form of psychosocial stress early in life has the potential of reducing risk for age-related disease and its associated burden.
authors.affiliation: MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,London SE5 8AF,UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.affiliation: MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,London SE5 8AF,UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danese
authors.affiliation: MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,London SE5 8AF,UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maughan
authors.affiliation: MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,London SE5 8AF,UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arseneault
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers; D015992:Body Mass Index; D058445:Bullying; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Bullying victimization; epidemiology; inflammation; longitudinal studies; obesity