Association between Bullying and Mental Health Status in New Zealand Adolescents

Abstract

This study investigates the association between mental health status and chronic bullying. Findings are based on a cross-sectional survey of 3,265 randomly selected secondary school students. Students were classified as having experienced chronic bullying if they had experienced any of the following five or more times during the previous six months while at school: physical violence, verbal teasing, sexual harassment and racist comments. Analysis showed that bullied students had lower self-esteem, suffered more from depression, stress and hopelessness, and were more likely to think about and attempt self-harm and suicide than others. Our findings suggest that young people in New Zealand secondary schools are experiencing significant levels of mental distress. Addressing violence in the school setting is important, as positive mental health is a prerequisite for the social, academic and physical achievements of young people in a school environment.