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Primary Submission Category: Mental health/function
The association between telling an adult about bullying victimization and adverse mental health outcomes due to bullying; examining positive school relationships as a potential moderator
Authors: Noah Westfall, J’Mag Karbeah, Katie Berry, Kelly Searle,
Presenting Author: Noah Westfall*
Introduction: Existing research is mixed about whether telling an adult at school about bullying victimization is beneficial to the victim, and may actually exacerbate the situation. This study assesses the association between telling an adult about bullying victimization and self reported adverse mental health outcomes (i.e., negative impact on family and peer relationships).
Methods: This descriptive study uses the 2022 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), a nationally representative survey of 12-18 year olds living in the United States.
Findings: Just under half (44%) of respondents (n=885) reported telling an adult about bullying victimization. In bivariate logistic regression models, individuals that told an adult about victimization had 1.8 (CI= 1.2 – 2.8) times the odds of reporting bullying having a negative impact on relationships with family or friends. When controlling for school relationship factors, having a peer that listens was associated with 72% lower odds (CI= 0.10 – 0.77) of reporting a negative impact on relationships due to bullying compared to individuals without a peer that listens. Finally, there is evidence that the relationship varies based on one’s social supports when added as an interaction [ (told adult*peer that listens) = 4.9, SE: 3.9, p < .05] and controlling for bullying frequency and school level. Overall, individuals that did not tell an adult about victimization and didn’t report having a peer that listens had the highest probability of the adverse outcome at 52% (CI= .25 – .80). In contrast, individuals that did not tell an adult about victimization, but reported having a peer that listens had the lowest predicted probability of the adverse outcome at 14% (CI= .10 – .18).
Conclusion: Though not causal, these findings suggest that a universal precaution to not tell an adult about bullying victimization may be inappropriate, depending on the quality of social support one has at school.