Depression and suicide ideation among secondary school adolescents involved in school bullying

Department of Family Medicine, Health Care Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBackground: Depression, isolation, low self-esteem, and lack of hope are just a few ofthe characteristics evident in adolescents involved in bullying. The aims of this studyare as follows: to examine the association between involvement in school bullying anddepressive symptoms and suicide ideation among victims, bully victims, and thoseuninvolved; to investigate the effects of vulnerability factors on depression and suicideideation among subjects aged 17 involved in school bullying. Methods: A self-reported school-based survey was completed by 290 secondary school students aged17 years, attending the third grade, coming from 15 different classes of secondaryschools in the Tuzla (coming from each municipality in the Tuzla Canton), 2007. Usingpeer nominations, three groups were established: victims, bully victims, and un-involved participants as control group subjects. Data were obtained using a self-ratedquestionnaire on bullying, Beck inventory to identify depression and suicide ideations,and state-trait anxiety scales to assess anxiety state/trait among examinees. Dataanalysis was performed using SPSS version 12.0. Results: There was an increasedprevalence of depression (29.0% versus 8.8%) and suicidal ideation (16.1% versus3.5%) in adolescents who have been victims in relationships to respondents who wereuninvolved subjects. There was an increased prevalence of depression (17.5% versus8.8%) and suicidal ideation (15.8.1% versus 3.5%) in adolescents who have beenbully victims in relationships to respondents who were uninvolved subjects too.Adolescents who are victims and those who are bully victims are more likely to havesuicide ideation compared to uninvolved subjects. Discontent with financial situationis a vulnerability factor associated with elevated levels of depression in victims.Conclusion: In evaluations of students involved in bullying behavior, it is importantto assess depression and suicide ideation.Key words: bully victims; depression; irritability; secondary school age students;suicide ideation; victim; vulnerability factors