title: Adolescents Transitioning to High School: Sex Differences in Bullying Victimization Associated With Depressive Symptoms, Suicide Ideation, and Suicide Attempts.
abstract: Adolescents transitioning to high school may be at greater risk of depression and suicide if they are victims of bullying behavior. This study explored sex differences in bullying victimization (physical, verbal/social, and cyberbullying) and the impact on depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors in ninth-grade students ( N = 233). Females reported significantly more verbal/social and cyberbullying than male students. There were no significant sex differences in physical bullying; male students who reported physical bullying victimization were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. Verbal/social bullying predicted depressive symptoms in males and females. Females who reported being victims of cyberbullying were more likely to report depressive symptoms, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. Eighteen students reported suicide attempts, and each also experienced verbal/social bullying. School nurses are positioned to reach out to transitioning students, screen for mental health issues, provide a safe place to talk about bullying experiences, and promote positive mental health.
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Fairhope, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Susan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: 2 Psychology Department, University of South Alabama, Fairhope, AL, USA.|3 Gulf Coast Behavioral Health and Resiliency Center, University of South Alabama, Fairhope, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langhinrichsen-Rohling
authors.affiliation: 3 Gulf Coast Behavioral Health and Resiliency Center, University of South Alabama, Fairhope, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Cory
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wornell
authors.affiliation: 3 Gulf Coast Behavioral Health and Resiliency Center, University of South Alabama, Fairhope, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Finnegan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: bullying; depression; high school; school nursing; sex differences; suicide; transitions