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The Differential Effects of Childhood and Chronic Bullying Victimization on Health and Risky Health Behaviors

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Abstract

We examine the heterogeneous effects of childhood bullying victimization and chronic bullying victimization on a wide range of outcomes using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth in the United States. Bullying victimization is categorized as childhood or chronic depending on the duration of victimization. We find that bullying victimization negatively affects the physical and mental health of youths, and increases the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, such as, smoking and marijuana use. The adverse effects tend to increase in magnitude with chronic bullying victimization. In addition, chronic bullying victimization increases the likelihood of utilizing mental health services and experiencing life-disrupting emotional problems in adulthood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evergreen Economics, Portland, OR, USA

    Zhazira Alisheva

  2. School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA

    Bidisha Mandal

Authors
  1. Zhazira Alisheva
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  2. Bidisha Mandal
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Correspondence to Bidisha Mandal.

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Alisheva, Z., Mandal, B. The Differential Effects of Childhood and Chronic Bullying Victimization on Health and Risky Health Behaviors. Journ Child Adol Trauma 16, 1005–1015 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-023-00542-0

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