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. 2015 Oct;60(10):427-31.
doi: 10.1177/070674371506001003.

Bullying Victimization (Being Bullied) Among Adolescents Referred for Urgent Psychiatric Consultation: Prevalence and Association With Suicidality

Nazanin Alavi  1 , Nasreen Roberts  2 , Chloe Sutton  3 , Nicholas Axas  4 , Leanne Repetti  5
Affiliations

Bullying Victimization (Being Bullied) Among Adolescents Referred for Urgent Psychiatric Consultation: Prevalence and Association With Suicidality

Nazanin Alavi et al. Can J Psychiatry. 2015 Oct.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To examine the prevalence of bullying victimization among adolescents referred for urgent psychiatric consultation, to study the association between bullying victimization and suicidality, and to examine the relation between different types of bullying and suicidality.

Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted for all adolescents referred to a hospital-based urgent consultation clinic. Our study sample consisted of adolescents with a history of bullying victimization. The Research Ethics Board of Queen's University provided approval. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS (IBM SPSS Inc, Armonk, NY). Chi-square tests were used for sex, suicidal ideation, history of physical and sexual abuse, and time and type of bullying, and an independent sample t test was used for age.

Results: The prevalence of bullying victimization was 48.5% (182 of 375). There was a significant association between being bullied and suicidal ideation (P = 0.01), and between sex and suicidal ideation (P ≤ 0.001). Victims of cyberbullying reported more suicidal ideation than those who experienced physical or verbal bullying (P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Bullying victimization, especially cyberbullying, is associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation among adolescents referred for psychiatric risk assessment. The detailed history of the type and duration of bullying experienced by the victims should be considered when conducting a psychiatric risk assessment.

Objectif :: Examiner la prévalence de la victimisation par intimidation chez des adolescents adressés à une consultation psychiatrique d’urgence, étudier l’association entre la victimisation par intimidation et la suicidabilité, et examiner la relation entre différents types d’intimidation et la suicidabilité.

Méthode :: Un examen rétrospectif des dossiers a été mené pour tous les adolescents adressés à une clinique de consultation d’urgence en milieu hospitalier. L’échantillon de notre étude se composait d’adolescents ayant des antécédents de victimisation par intimidation. Le comité d’éthique de la recherche de l’Université Queen’s a donné son approbation. L’analyse des données a été menée à l’aide de SPSS (IBM SPSS Inc, Armonk, NY). Des tests chi-carrés ont été utilisés pour le sexe, l’idéation suicidaire, les antécédents d’abus physique et sexuel, ainsi que le moment et le type de l’intimidation. Un test t d’échantillon indépendant a servi pour l’âge.

Résultats :: La prévalence de la victimisation par intimidation était de 48,5 % (182 sur 375). Il y avait une association significative entre se faire intimider et l’idéation suicidaire (P = 0,01), et entre le sexe et l’idéation suicidaire (P ≤ 0,001). Les victimes de cyberintimidation déclaraient plus d’idéation suicidaire que celles qui subissaient l’intimidation physique ou verbale (P = 0,04).

Conclusions :: La victimisation par intimidation, en particulier par cyberintimidation, est associée à un risque accru d’idéation suicidaire chez les adolescents adressés à une évaluation de risque psychiatrique. Le récit détaillé du type et de la durée de l’intimidation subie par les victimes devrait être pris en compte lors d’une évaluation de risque psychiatrique.

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