Citation

Krusell MK, Hohwü L, Bjereld Y, Madsen KB, Obel C. Acta Paediatr. 2019; 108(6): 1096-1102.

Affiliation

Section for General Medical Practice, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/apa.14642

PMID

30421832

Abstract

AIM: Childhood bullying may negatively affect the mental health in children and adolescents, but few studies have explored this potential link. We aimed to investigate the association between childhood bullying and the impact of poor mental health on the daily life in a population of Nordic children and adolescents aged 5-16 years.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on data from the Nordic survey on Children's Health and Wellbeing (NordChild) from 2011. The study population included 4,966 children from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Mental health was measured by a parent-reported version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. We conducted multiple logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds ratios of poor mental health in bullied compared to non-bullied children and adolescents while adjusting for sex, age, body mass index and parental socioeconomic status RESULTS: Bullied children and adolescents were four times more likely than their non-bullied peers to have mental health problems with negative impact on their daily life at home, in their relations to friends, learning in school or leisure activities (aOR 4.32; 95% CI: 3.54-5.26).

CONCLUSION: This study found negative impact on the mental health in bullied children and adolescents, which affected several arenas of daily life. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Bullying; Mental health; Scandinavian and Nordic countries; Surveys and Questionnaires