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. 2023 Jan;95(1):5-33.
doi: 10.1002/jad.12097. Epub 2022 Oct 9.

The longitudinal course of childhood bullying victimization and associations with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in children and young people: A systematic review of the literature

Emma Wilson  1   2 , Holly Crudgington  1   2 , Craig Morgan  1   2 , Colette Hirsch  3   4 , Matthew Prina  1 , Charlotte Gayer-Anderson  1   2
Affiliations

The longitudinal course of childhood bullying victimization and associations with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in children and young people: A systematic review of the literature

Emma Wilson et al. J Adolesc. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: Bullying victimization has consistently been highlighted as a risk factor for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) in young people. This systematic review of prospective, community-based studies explored associations between bullying victimization (traditional/face-to-face and cyber) across the full spectrum of self-harm and suicidality, in children and young people aged up to (and including) 25 years. Importantly, associations by sex/gender were explored.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus were searched for articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Articles were screened by title, abstract and full text. Quality appraisal was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Data were synthesized narratively. The protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021261916) and followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

Results: A total of 35 papers were included, across 17 countries. Results were presented by bullying type: traditional/face-to-face (n = 25), cyber (n = 7) and/or an aggregate of both types (n = 7). Outcomes included suicidal ideation (n = 17), self-harm (n = 10), suicide attempt (n = 4), NSSI (n = 4), other (n = 7). Studies measured outcomes in under 18s (n = 24), 18-25-year-olds (n = 8) and both under 18s and 18-25-year-olds (n = 3). Studies exploring the role of sex/gender (20%) found some interesting nuances.

Conclusions: Some weak to strong associations between bullying and SITBs were found yet conclusions are tentative due to study heterogeneity (e.g., methods used, conceptualizations and operationalisations of exposures/outcomes). Future research should address methodological issues raised in this review, and further explore gender differences in bullying, including by bullying sub-types (e.g., overt or relational) and victim status (e.g., victim or bully-victim).

Keywords: bullying; gender; review; self-harm; suicide; youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptualization of self‐harm and suicidality in North America [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 2
Figure 2
Conceptualization of self‐harm and suicidality in United Kingdom [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 3
Figure 3
PRISMA flow chart depicting study selection process. PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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