Investigating the relationship between bullying involvement and self-harmful thoughts and behaviour in young people: A systematic review

Hayley Moore; Kapil Sayal; A Jess Williams; Ellen Townsend

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.056

Investigating the relationship between bullying involvement and self-harmful thoughts and behaviour in young people: A systematic review

J Affect Disord. 2022 Oct 15:315:234-258. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.056. Epub 2022 Jul 29.

Authors

Hayley Moore¹, Kapil Sayal², A Jess Williams³, Ellen Townsend⁴

Affiliations

¹ Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. Electronic address: Hayley.moore@nottingham.ac.uk.
² Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
³ Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; Department of Informatics, Strand Campus, King's College London, London WC2B 4BG, UK.
⁴ Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.

PMID: 35908603
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.056

Abstract

Background: There is a complex and inconsistent relationship between bullying involvement and self-harmful thoughts and behaviour (SHTB) in young people. This novel systematic review aims to establish key interacting, moderating and mediating variables associated with SHTB in young people involved in bullying.

Methods: The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42020192023. A search was conducted (until February 2021) across databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO (Ovid), Cochrane Library, Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science, ERIC and CINAHL (EBSCOhost). Observational studies containing quantitative primary or secondary data analyses were included in the review, on the basis that they examined interactions, moderators, or mediators between bullying involvement and SHTB in young people. Versions of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to assess risk of bias in the included studies.

Results: A total of 57 studies were included. Overall, 3 studies identified interactions, 25 studies identified moderators and 21 studies identified mediators. 9 studies identified moderator-mediators. The findings were categorised as either self-harmful thoughts or self-harmful behaviours and synthesised under the following themes: socio-demographic; depression; parental; personality/psychological; and social/environmental.

Limitations: This review uncovered significant heterogeneity and a paucity of replicated studies in the field, therefore, tentative conclusions have been drawn.

Conclusions: This comprehensive review highlights the key role of depression as a mediator between traditional/cyber victimisation and SHTB in young people. The moderating effects of gender on mediation models investigating the role of depression suggest the possibility that females involved in bullying may be at increased suicide risk.

Keywords: Adolescence; Bullying; Self-harm; Suicide; Systematic review; Victimisation.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Bullying*
Cyberbullying*
Female
Humans
Self-Injurious Behavior* / epidemiology
Self-Injurious Behavior* / psychology
Suicide*