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Bullying perpetration and victimization associations to suicide behavior: a longitudinal study

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Abstract

Previous studies have reported a longitudinal association between cybervictimization and suicidal thoughts and behavior. However, the relationship between cyber-perpetration and prospective suicide risk remains unclear. The sample was composed of 2150 at-risk adolescents (mean age 15.42), enrolled in Vocational Education and Training high schools in Israel. Cyberbullying, traditional bullying, depression, hostility, serious suicidal ideations, and suicide attempts were assessed through self-report questionnaires at the beginning of the school year and one year later. All types of victimization and preparation were cross-sectionally associated with suicide ideation and attempts. Longitudinal associations were found between cyber-perpetration and suicidal ideation/attempts. Cyber-perpetrators were found to be over twice more likely to report serious suicidal ideation (OR = 2.04) or attempt suicide (OR = 2.64) in the subsequent year compared to noninvolved adolescents. These associations were significant even after adjusting for baseline depression, hostility, and traditional bullying. Traditional bullying perpetration was prospectively associated with suicide attempts. Traditional victimization was cross-sectionally associated with suicide ideation and attempts but not prospectively. Cybervictimization was prospectively associated with suicide ideation but not to suicide attempts. The findings demonstrate the prospective risk of involvement in bullying in regard to suicide ideation and behavior. Cyberbullying was found to be a somewhat differentiated phenomena from traditional bullying.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Joy Benatov

  2. College of Management and Academic Studies, Rishon LeZion, Israel

    Joy Benatov

  3. Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel

    Anat Brunstein Klomek

  4. Amal Holdings, Ra’anana, Israel

    Shai Chen-Gal

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  1. Joy Benatov
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  2. Anat Brunstein Klomek
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  3. Shai Chen-Gal
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Correspondence to Joy Benatov.

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The study has been approved by MOSAL’s and The College of Management and Academic Studies ethics committees and has therefore been performed in accordance with ethical standards.

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Benatov, J., Brunstein Klomek, A. & Chen-Gal, S. Bullying perpetration and victimization associations to suicide behavior: a longitudinal study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 31, 1353–1360 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-021-01776-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-021-01776-9

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