Bullying, depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts

Bullies, victims and pupils neutral to bullying were compared on depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. The sample included 2,088 Norwegian boys and girls in grade 8. The results revealed that both bullies and victims had significantly higher mean scores than neutral pupils on both depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Victims had a significantly higher mean score on depressive thoughts than the bullies. On suicidal thoughts, the mean score for bullies was above that of the victims, but this difference was not significant. Girls had significantly higher mean scores than boys on both depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. This was the case for all pupils, and for victims, bullies and the neutral pupils. Questions of causality between depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts and involvement in bullying are discussed and research on this issue is suggested.