Bullying and Suicidal Behavior During Adolescence: A Developmental Perspective

Abstract

This review of the literature examines the problem of suicide and bullying from a developmental perspective with a focus on the unique characteristics of adolescence that may contribute to the bullying-suicide link. Adolescence is a time of peak physical health, yet can be a period of risky behavior and heightened emotionality. In this literature review, it is argued that a number of developmental factors leave adolescents especially vulnerable to suicidal behavior following exposure to bullying. This review highlights the importance of developmental factors in understanding the bullying-suicide link during adolescence. Adolescence, with an increase in emotionality, risk-taking, and an increased focus on peer relationships, is an at-risk period for the development of suicidality following exposure to bullying. Also highlighted are gender differences, special challenges facing LGBTQ adolescents, and recommendations for intervention and prevention.

A longitudinal examination of social connectedness and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents

“…Gender was also a significant predictor, with females exhibiting greater suicide ideation compared to their male counterparts. This is consistent with the literature on gender and suicide ideation (e.g., Gunn & Goldstein, ). It is not clear why a similar gender difference did not emerge for suicide attempt.…”

“…This logistic regression included our hypothesized predictor variables, gender, and suicide attempt at Wave 1. It was important to include gender in the analyses based on the well‐documented literature showing that adolescent girls, as compared to adolescent boys, are at a greater risk for suicidal thoughts and actions (Gunn & Goldstein, ).…”

Susceptibility to peer influence during middle school: Links with social support, peer harassment, and gender

“…being particularly challenging for resisting sometimes ill-advised peer influence, the early adolescent years are also the time for peaks in exposure to peer-based aggression and harassment, particularly during the transition to secondary school (Pellegrini & Long, 2002;Pepler, Jiang, Craig, & Connolly, 2008). Other types of mental health challenges associated with peer-based aggression and harassment also begin to rise during early adolescence, including depression, anxiety, and behaviors and cognitions associated with suicide (Arseneault, Bowes, & Shakoor, 2010;Gunn & Goldstein, 2017;Hinduja & Patchin, 2010;Kowalski & Limber, 2013;Litwiller & Brausch, 2013;Shemesh et al, 2013). Thus, a better understanding of factors that are associated with involvement in peer-based aggression and harassment during early adolescence, including variations in susceptibility to peer influence, is critical in an effort to mitigate some of the risk for these deleterious outcomes.…”

Mental Health Assessment of the Frequent Visitors in the School Setting—Part 1: An Overview

“…Youth who experience short-term bullying with intermediation from adults usually do not experience long-term effects. However, lack of adult mediation may result in long-term effects such as posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideations, and substance abuse (Gunn & Goldstein, 2017; Ossa et al, 2019; Wolke & Lereya, 2015).…”