Study Links Bullying to Kids and Teens with Neurodevelopmental or Mental Health Diagnoses

A study published in Child & Adolescent Health finds that young people with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions are more likely to be involved in bullying. This group of children is not only more likely to be victims of bullying but also to engage in bullying behaviors themselves — either as victims, perpetrators, or as both victims and perpetrators — compared to their peers.

Furthermore, the study notes that involvement in bullying was associated with higher scores on mental health measures. Bullying may worsen any existing mental health challenges these young people are already facing, including internalizing behaviors (like anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal) and externalizing behaviors (acting out, aggression, and conduct problems).

Given these findings, it is evident that interventions are needed to eliminate bullying and promote positive social interactions. Bullying is a common form of violence among young people with physical, psychological, and academic consequences.

Understanding the Research

This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed data from 212 studies, which included 126,717 young people diagnosed with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions (referred to as “cases”) and 504,806 young people without these conditions (referred to as “controls”).

Most of the cases included in the study were around 12 years old, and 37.6% were girls. Meanwhile, the control group had a similar average age of 12 years, with a slightly higher percentage of girls (47.6%).

Bullying was classified as the following:

• Traditional bullying: physical, verbal, or relational (which is usually quiet and hidden, and involves leaving someone out of social circles)
• Cyberbullying: Using technology or digital devices to harass someone

Here are the detailed findings for traditional bullying:

• 42.2% of children with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions were victims
• 24.4% of these children were perpetrators
• 14.0% were either bullied themselves or got involved in bullying others

Here are the detailed findings for cyberbullying:

• 21.8% were victims
• 19.6% were perpetrators
• 20.7% were involved in both cyberbullying others and being cyberbullied

Practical Strategies for Parents, Schools, and Mental Health Professionals

The good news is that bullying behaviors can be changed through different interventions. Doing so can improve the lives of children and adolescents, particularly those with neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions.

Parents, schools, and mental health professionals may help in the following ways:

• Incorporate SEL (social and emotional learning) programs into schools. SEL programs address bullying by teaching students how to communicate and resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner. Here, children learn the importance of conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and acceptance & diversity.
• Provide individual or small group counseling. School counselors (or guidance counselors) can be safe spaces for students to share their experiences with bullying. As a counselor, help them build resilience so that they are prepared for difficult situations. Hang this wall art in your counseling office to remind students that they are valued!
• Parents must teach coping strategies. Let your child become aware of the different forms of bullying, including steps they can take if they feel unsafe. We also have a handout dedicated to cyberbullying.

The authors of the study remind us that reducing and preventing bullying helps achieve fairness in the world and that it should be a top priority.

For more resources to promote positivity, we invite you to check out our Social Skills Worksheets and Character Education Posters.