Under the skin: does psychiatric outcome of bullying victimization in school persist over time? A prospective intervention study

Abstract In some Scandinavian countries, the United Kingdom and the United States, there is evidence of a dramatic decline in adolescent emotional wellbeing, particularly among girls. It is not clear to what extent this decline can be generalised to other high-income countries. This study examines trends over time (2005-2009-2013-2017) in adolescent wellbeing in the Netherlands, a country where young people have consistently reported one of the highest levels of wellbeing across Europe. It also assesses parallel changes over time in perceived schoolwork pressure, parent-adolescent communication, and bullying victimization. Data were derived from four waves of the nationally representative, cross-sectional Dutch Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (N = 21,901; 49% girls; Mage = 13.78, SD = 1.25). Trends in emotional wellbeing (i.e., emotional symptoms, psychosomatic complaints, life satisfaction) were assessed by means of multiple regression analyses with survey year as a predictor, controlling for background variables. Emotional wellbeing slightly declined among adolescent boys and girls between 2009 and 2013. A substantial increase in perceived schoolwork pressure was associated with this decline in emotional wellbeing. Improved parent-adolescent communication and a decline in bullying victimization may explain why emotional wellbeing remained stable between 2013 and 2017, in spite of a further increase in schoolwork pressure. Associations between emotional wellbeing on the one hand and perceived schoolwork pressure, parent-adolescent communication, and bullying victimization on the other were stronger for girls than for boys. Overall, although increasing schoolwork pressure may be one of the drivers of declining emotional wellbeing in adolescents, in the Netherlands this negative trend was buffered by increasing support by parents and peers. Cross-national research into this topic is warranted to examine the extent to which these findings can be generalised to other high-income countries.

Download Full-text

Family Caregiver Stress: Clinical Assessment and Management

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610289000190 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 185-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Beverly A. Baldwin ◽

Karen M. Kleeman ◽

Georgia L. Stevens ◽

Joyce Rasin

Keyword(s):

Support Group ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Group Intervention ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Random Assignment ◽

Symptom Experience ◽

Control Groups ◽

Effective Interventions ◽

And Coping ◽

Over Time

This intervention study compares the effectiveness of two approaches on caregiving stress reduction. Caregivers' psychobiological symptom experience and coping were profiled over time by identifying the types of stress-related symptoms most frequently experienced. Following pretesting (and selected matching procedures) using family functioning, coping, stress and mental status instruments, random assignment of caregivers was made to one of four groups: educative/didactic, psychotherapeutic/support, placebo, or control. Patients were tested at the end of eight weekly 2-hour sessions and again at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals after treatment. Although both the educative and psychotherapeutic groups were effective interventions for the reduction of strain, the psychotherapeutic/support group was the most effective over time, both at posttest and at the 3-month intervals. Neither group intervention was more effective than the control groups in reducing other types of stress, including anxiety, somatization, or depression. The psychobiological symptoms experienced by caregivers peaked at crisis periods in the caregiving trajectory, or when multiple demands were made of the caregiver during any one point in time.

Download Full-text

Predictors of One-Year Change in How Youth Perceive Their Weight

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2020/7396948 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Karen A. Patte ◽

Wei Qian ◽

Scott T. Leatherdale

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Computer Games ◽

Weight Status ◽

Team Sports ◽

Bullying Victimization ◽

One Year ◽

The Right ◽

Over Time ◽

Screen Use

Overall, perceptions of being at “about the right weight” appear advantageous for youth physical and mental health, regardless of BMI classification, whereas perceptions at either extreme (overweight or underweight) may negatively impact health behaviours and mental health. Instead of considering weight misperceptions as problematic, some researchers have proposed that underestimations of weight status may offer resiliency among individuals with overweight or obesity. Promoting “about right” WPs and preventing change to overweight or underweight perceptions may offer an effective public health strategy for supporting youth health over time. However, limited prospective evidence exists on factors that shape perceptions of weight status over time. The current study examined modifiable predictors of one-year change in weight perception among youths. We used 2-year linked data of 18,112 grade 9–12 students from Year 3 (Y3:2014–2015) and Year 4 (Y4:2015–2016) of the COMPASS study. Generalized Estimating Equation models tested screen use, physical activity, and bullying victimization as predictors of change from perceptions of “about the right weight” to “overweight” or “underweight” perceptions, adjusting for Y3 covariates (body mass index, ethnicity, and grade) and school cluster. Results support the value of team sports among females and resistance exercise among males as protective against changes to overweight or underweight perceptions over one year. Also, various forms of bullying victimization predicted overweight perceptions in males and females. Watching TV/movies or messaging/texting for over 2 hours/day was associated with overweight and underweight perceptions, respectively, in females only. Playing video/computer games for over 2 hours/day was associated with overweight perceptions in males and underweight perceptions in females. Findings support the potential of bullying prevention, limiting certain screen use, and supporting engagement in team sports for females and resistance exercise for males as strategies to maintain perceptions of being at “about the right weight.”

Download Full-text

Bullying Trends in the United States: A Meta-Regression

Trauma Violence & Abuse ◽

10.1177/1524838019888555 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 152483801988855 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Reeve S. Kennedy

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Time Trend ◽

The United States ◽

Bullying Victimization ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Trend Study ◽

Cyberbullying Victimization ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Physical Bullying ◽

Over Time

The current study used meta-regression to establish trends in bullying from 1998 to 2017, to identify factors that help explain variation in bullying trends, and to determine differences in the trends by gender and grade. This study focused on trends of face-to-face (FTF) bullying victimization and perpetration, cyberbullying victimization, relational bullying victimization, verbal bullying victimization, and physical bullying victimization, as well as characteristics of the youth involved. It also explored methodological and survey differences to help determine which factors contribute to variation from study to study. A systematic search found 91 studies reporting trends of bullying, from 1998 to 2017, that met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings illustrate no significant time trend when looking at FTF bullying victimization, yet an increasing time trend for cyberbullying victimization. Additional trends begin to emerge when stratifying the findings by grade and gender, with FTF bullying victimization among boys declining, while FTF bullying victimization among girls is increasing. Across both FTF bullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization, younger adolescents report significantly more bullying than older adolescents, and this is consistent over time. Verbal and physical bullying victimization as well as FTF bullying perpetration have significantly declined over time. This study also identified key variables that contribute to the variation from trend study to trend study. The implications of these findings inform both policy and practice and provide insight into the overall scope of bullying within the United States.

Download Full-text

The link between juvenile offending and victimization: Sources of change over time in bullying victimization risk among South Korean adolescents

Children and Youth Services Review ◽

10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.10.041 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 71 ◽

pp. 119-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sujung Cho ◽

John Wooldredge

Keyword(s):

Bullying Victimization ◽

Juvenile Offending ◽

Change Over Time ◽

Korean Adolescents ◽

South Korean ◽

Victimization Risk ◽

Over Time

Download Full-text

Joint Developmental Trajectories of Bullying and Victimization from Childhood to Adolescence: A Parallel-Process Latent Class Growth Analysis

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520933054 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052093305

Author(s):

Yueyue Zhou ◽

Hao Zheng ◽

Yiming Liang ◽

Jiazhou Wang ◽

Ru Han ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Latent Class ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

School Bullying ◽

Bullying Victimization ◽

Low Level ◽

Grade Difference ◽

Group A ◽

Trajectory Group ◽

High Level ◽

Over Time

Previous studies have shown that bullying and victimization can be experienced simultaneously by an individual and can change over time. Understanding the joint longitudinal development of the two is of great significance. We conducted a 4-year longitudinal study to examine the joint developmental trajectories of bullying and victimization, gender and grade differences in trajectory group membership, and changes in specific forms of bullying and victimization (verbal, relational, and physical bullying /victimization) in each trajectory group. A total of 775 children from China participated in our study. The average age of participants at the first wave was 10.90 years ( SD = 1.12), and boys accounted for 69.5% of the sample. Based on mean scores, four distinct joint developmental trajectories of bullying and victimization were found: the involvement group (both bullying and victimization increased from low to high over time, accounting for 7.6% of the total), the desisted group (both bullying and victimization decreased from high to low over time, 6.1%), the victimization group (victimization remained at a high level, whereas bullying remained at a low level for 3 years, 13.2%), and the noninvolved group (bullying and victimization remained at a stable low level, 73.1%). Boys were more likely than girls to belong to the involvement group, desisted group, and victimization group, whereas girls were more likely than boys to belong to the noninvolved group. There was no significant grade difference in the trajectory group. All forms of bullying/victimization were consistent with the overall trend and showed similar levels. These results have important implications for the prevention of and interventions for school bullying.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of a Neonatal Resuscitation Training Programme for Healthcare Professionals in Zanzibar, Tanzania: A Pre-post Intervention Study

Frontiers in Pediatrics ◽

10.3389/fped.2021.693583 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Xiang Ding ◽

Li Wang ◽

Mwinyi I. Msellem ◽

Yaojia Hu ◽

Jun Qiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Neonatal Resuscitation ◽

Training Programme ◽

African Countries ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Resuscitation Training ◽

Before And After ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Over Time

Background: Neonatal mortality rates remain high in Sub-Saharan African countries. Improving the newborn resuscitation skills of healthcare professionals is important in addressing this challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate a neonatal resuscitation training programme delivered over a two-year period for healthcare professionals in Zanzibar, Tanzania.Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was designed. We delivered neonatal resuscitation training over a 2-day period in 2017 and 2 days of refresher training in 2018. Knowledge was evaluated by a self-designed survey (11 items with a total score of 22) before and after the two training periods, and skills were evaluated by a skills checklist (six domains with 25 items with a total score of 50) completed by the trainers based on their observations. Statistical analysis included differences in the knowledge and skills scores before and after the training sessions and between the two periods.Results: A total of 23 healthcare professionals participated and completed both neonatal resuscitation training sessions. The knowledge mean scores before and after the training in 2017 increased from 9.60 to 13.60 (95% CI: −5.900; −2.099, p < 0.001), and in 2018, the scores increased from 10.80 to 15.44 (95% CI: −6.062; −3.217, p < 0.001). The mean knowledge scores post-training over time were 13.60 in 2017 and 15.44 in 2018 (95% CI: −3.489; 0.190, p = 0.030). The resuscitation skills performance between the two time periods increased from a mean of 32.26 (SD = 2.35) to a mean of 42.43 (SD = 1.73) (95% CI: −11.402; −8.945, p < 0.001).Conclusion: The neonatal resuscitation training programme increased the theoretical knowledge and resuscitation skills before and after the two training sessions and over time after a 9-month period. Continuous neonatal resuscitation training based on the local needs in resource-limited countries is essential to provide confidence in healthcare professionals to initiate resuscitation and to improve newborn outcomes.

Download Full-text

Stability and change in longitudinal patterns of antisocial behaviors: The role of social and emotional competencies, empathy, and morality

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-02484-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elena Nasaescu ◽

Izabela Zych ◽

Rosario Ortega-Ruiz ◽

David P. Farrington ◽

Vicente J. Llorent

Keyword(s):

Protective Factors ◽

Moral Disengagement ◽

Bullying Victimization ◽

Antisocial Behaviors ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Emotional Competencies ◽

Prevention And Intervention ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Over Time ◽

Social And Emotional Competencies

Abstract Studies show that different types of antisocial behaviors share similar risk and protective factors related to particular social, emotional and moral competencies. Nevertheless, little is known about the longitudinal relation of social, emotional and moral competencies with patterns of antisocial behaviors in youth. The present study aimed to discover the longitudinal relations between social and emotional competencies, empathy, moral emotions, moral disengagement, and perceived moral disengagement induced by parents, and the patterns of antisocial behaviors and change in these patterns over time. A sample of 898 Spanish students aged between 9 and 17 was followed up for one year. Self-reported data were analyzed using latent transition analyses and multinomial regressions. Results showed that age, several mechanisms of moral disengagement, perceived parental moral disengagement induction, and several social and emotional competencies predicted offenders outside of school and highly antisocial and victimized patterns, including their stability over time. Moreover, males at early ages and perceived parental moral disengagement induction predicted the high bullying victimization pattern. Being a male, with high victim dehumanizing and blaming, predicted stability of the high bullying victimization pattern. Being a male, early ages, and low responsible decision-making predicted changes from the high bullying victimization pattern to the low antisocial pattern. Results are discussed emphasizing the need to conduct prevention and intervention programs from a comprehensive perspective promoting social, emotional and moral competencies. This study could have useful implications for prevention and intervention focused on decreasing risk and increasing protective factors.

Download Full-text

Victims, bullies, and their defenders: A longitudinal study of the coevolution of positive and negative networks

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579414000297 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 645-659 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Gijs Huitsing ◽

Tom A. B. Snijders ◽

Marijtje A. J. Van Duijn ◽

René Veenstra

Keyword(s):

Bullying Victimization ◽

Complex Interplay ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Goal Framing ◽

Multiplex Network ◽

Starting Point ◽

The Social ◽

Social Network Approach ◽

The Relationship ◽

Over Time

AbstractThe complex interplay between bullying/victimization and defending was examined using a longitudinal social network approach (stochastic actor-based models). The (co)evolution of these relations within three elementary schools (Grades 2–5 at Time 1, ages 8–11, N = 354 children) was investigated across three time points within a year. Most bullies and defenders were in the same grade as the victims, although a substantial number of bullies and defenders were in other grades (most often one grade higher). Defenders were usually of the same gender as the victims, whereas most bullies were boys, with boys bullying both boys and girls. In line with goal-framing theory, multiplex network analyses provided evidence for the social support hypothesis (victims with the same bullies defended each other over time) as well as the retaliation hypothesis (defenders run the risk of becoming victimized by the bullies of the victims they defend). In addition, the analysis revealed that bullies with the same victims defended each other over time and that defenders of bullies initiated harassment of those bullies' victims. This study can be seen as a starting point in unraveling the relationship dynamics among bullying, victimization, and defending networks in schools.

Download Full-text

APOE Genotype Disclosure and Lifestyle Advice in a Randomized Intervention Study with Finnish Participants

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxaa316 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 151 (1) ◽

pp. 85-97

Author(s):

Heidi M Leskinen ◽

Maaria Tringham ◽

Heli Karjalainen ◽

Terhi K Iso-Touru ◽

Hanna-Leena Hietaranta-Luoma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervention Study ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Apoe Genotype ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

The Other ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Carrier Status ◽

Randomized Intervention ◽

Randomized Intervention Study ◽

Over Time

ABSTRACT Background The APOE ε4 allele is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer disease than ε3 and ε2. Objectives We studied the effectiveness of dietary and lifestyle guidance and personal genetic risk information [ε4 carrier (ε4+); ε4 noncarrier (ε4−)] as motivators for a healthier lifestyle. Methods A total of 188 healthy Finnish volunteers (82.4% women; mean ± SD age: 51.0 ± 5.6 y; BMI: 26.0 ± 3.6 kg/m2; total cholesterol: 5.2 ± 0.9 mmol/L) participated in our randomized intervention study. The participants were genotyped for APOE and divided into intervention (INT; INTε4+, n = 33; INTε4−, n = 57) and control groups (CTRL; CTRLε4+, n = 36; CTRLε4−, n = 62). Blood samples, measured observations, and questionnaire data were obtained at baseline and at 1 and 1.5 y. INT participants received their ε4 carrier status at baseline. Monthly Internet-based guidance based on the Finnish Dietary guidelines was provided for all. Results The proportion of SFAs in plasma over time fluctuated less in INTε4+ than in the other groups (P-interaction < 0.05; primary outcome). The lifestyle guidance increased vegetable consumption from 3.5 to 3.6 portions/d, improved the dietary fat quality score by 5.3%, increased the plasma n–3 (ω-3) FA proportion by 7.3%, and decreased the consumption of high-fat/high-sugar foods from 7.3 to 6.5 portions/wk and total- and LDL-cholesterol concentrations by 4.3% and 6.1%, respectively, in the entire participant population (P < 0.05; secondary outcome). Compared with the ε4− participants, ε4+ participants had 2.4% higher plasma n–6 (ω-6) FA, lower C-peptide (3.9 compared with 4.2 nmol/L × h) and sensitive C-reactive protein values, and decreased plasma malondialdehyde concentrations over time (P < 0.05; secondary outcome). Conclusions Lifestyle guidance given to healthy Finnish participants yielded small but beneficial changes. The INTε4+ group did not seem markedly more responsive to the guidance than the other groups. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03794141.

Download Full-text