MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
Psychol Med. 2010 May;40(5):717-29. doi: 10.1017/S0033291709991383. Epub 2009 Sep 29.
Bullying victimization is a topic of concern for youths, parents, school staff and mental health practitioners. Children and adolescents who are victimized by bullies show signs of distress and adjustment problems. However, it is not clear whether bullying is the source of these difficulties. This paper reviews empirical evidence to determine whether bullying victimization is a significant risk factor for psychopathology and should be the target of intervention and prevention strategies. Research indicates that being the victim of bullying (1) is not a random event and can be predicted by individual characteristics and family factors; (2) can be stable across ages; (3) is associated with severe symptoms of mental health problems, including self-harm, violent behaviour and psychotic symptoms; (4) has long-lasting effects that can persist until late adolescence; and (5) contributes independently to children's mental health problems. This body of evidence suggests that efforts aimed at reducing bullying victimization in childhood and adolescence should be strongly supported. In addition, research on explanatory mechanisms involved in the development of mental health problems in bullied youths is needed.
受欺凌是青少年、家长、学校工作人员和心理健康从业者关注的一个话题。受欺凌的儿童和青少年表现出痛苦和适应问题的迹象。然而，目前尚不清楚欺凌是否是这些困难的根源。本文综述了实证证据，以确定欺凌受害是否是精神病理学的一个重要风险因素，是否应成为干预和预防策略的目标。研究表明，被欺凌（1）不是随机事件，可以通过个体特征和家庭因素来预测；（2）在年龄间是稳定的；（3）与严重的心理健康问题症状相关，包括自残、暴力行为和精神病症状；（4）具有持久的影响，可以持续到青春期后期；（5）独立于儿童的心理健康问题。这一证据表明，应该大力支持减少儿童和青少年受欺凌的努力。此外，还需要研究欺凌受害青少年心理健康问题发展中的解释机制。
