Victimisation and suicide ideation in the TRAILS study: specific vulnerabilities of victims

Abstract

Parental internalizing disorders and feelings of rejection at home confer a specific vulnerability for suicide ideation among victims of bullying.

Involvement in Bullying and Suicide-Related Behavior at 11 Years: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

“…In contrast, the only prospective study regarding preadolescent children, did not report an association between bully-victimization and subsequent suicide ideation. 11 Therefore, our findings extend the current literature by revealing that victims, and particularly bully-victims, are at increased risk of suicide ideation and behavior during preadolescence.…”

“…5 While bully/victims appear especially at risk for a range of negative mental health outcomes, [6][7][8] findings regarding links with suicidal behavior are mixed. [9][10][11] Most existing studies pertaining to suicide ideation 9, 12-14 and behavior (suicidal/self-injurious behavior) 9,15,16 focused on adolescent populations (13 to 18 years), and were cross-sectional, precluding causal interpretation.…”

“…17,19,20 Further, these studies tend not to control for all suicide related risk factors simultaneously, including exposure to family conflict, harsh parenting, abuse 21 and concomitant mental health problems, such as depression; 22 potentially confounding observed associations. 23 The link between bullying and suicide ideation or behavior in preadolescent children has received even less research attention; 11 due to lower prevalence of suicidal behavior in this age group, 1 and ethical concerns pertaining to asking younger individuals about these experiences. 24 The one prospective preadolescent study published reported a complex association between being victimized and suicide ideation; which was moderated by parental internalizing disorders and feelings of rejection at home.…”

“…24 The one prospective preadolescent study published reported a complex association between being victimized and suicide ideation; which was moderated by parental internalizing disorders and feelings of rejection at home. This study 11 did not include pure bullies, and those defined as bully-victims were not found to be at increased risk of suicide ideation. 11 Suicide ideation has been repeatedly observed in child populations, 11,25,26 and crucially, there is consistent evidence linking preadolescent suicidal ideation with later suicide attempts in adolescence.…”

“…This study 11 did not include pure bullies, and those defined as bully-victims were not found to be at increased risk of suicide ideation. 11 Suicide ideation has been repeatedly observed in child populations, 11,25,26 and crucially, there is consistent evidence linking preadolescent suicidal ideation with later suicide attempts in adolescence. 27,28 With adolescence comes an increased risk of psychopathology, more freedom and cognitive resources; 1 all of which may heighten the risk of acting upon suicide ideation.…”