Examining the Long-Term Consequences of Bullying on Adult Substance Use

Abstract

Violence is a major concern in the school safety literature. With the potential negative impact of bullying victimization, it is imperative that bullying also be seen as an important social problem that has potential long-term mental and physical health consequences (CDC Surveillance Summaries, 65(6), 1-50, 2016). Numerous studies have documented the negative consequences of bullying in childhood, contending that bullying during childhood can lead to a variety of adulthood problems (Farrington, Loeber, Stallings, & Ttofi Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 3(2), 74-81, 2011; Rigby, 2007). Fewer studies have examined the long-term consequences of childhood bullying on adult substance use. This study uses Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) data to examine the association between school-aged bullying (under the age of 19) and adult alcohol, cigarette, and drug use (using Wave 10 from 2007).