Bullying behaviours and other conduct problems: Longitudinal investigation of their independent associations with risk factors and later outcomes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bullying behaviours and other conduct problems:

T2 - Longitudinal investigation of their independent associations with risk factors and later outcomes

AU - Ganesan, Keertana

AU - Shakoor, Sania

AU - Wertz, Jasmin

AU - Blais, Jessica

AU - Bowes, Lucy

AU - Jaffee, Sara R.

AU - Matthews, Tim

AU - Arseneault, Louise

PY - 2021/3/9

Y1 - 2021/3/9

N2 - Purpose: Bullying behaviours and other conduct problems often co-occur. However, we do not yet know whether bullying behaviours are associated with early factors and later poor outcomes independently of conduct problems. While there are differing, specific interventions for bullying behaviours and for conduct problems, it is unclear if such specificity is justified given parallels between both behaviours. Methods: We used prospective data from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally-representative sample of 2,232 children. Mothers and teachers reported on children’s bullying behaviours and conduct problems at ages 7 and 10. We collected measures of risk factors, including temperament and family factors, when children were age 5. We assessed behavioural, emotional, educational and social problems when participants reached the ages of 12 and 18. Results: Bullying behaviours and conduct problems co-occurred in childhood. Our findings indicated that bullying behaviours and other conduct problems were independently associated with the same risk factors. Furthermore, they were associated with the same poor outcomes at both age 12 and 18. Despite this, bullying behaviours were uniquely associated with behavioural, emotional, educational and social problems at age 18. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that anti-bullying programmes and interventions aimed at reducing conduct problems could benefit from greater integration. Furthermore, our study highlights the mental health problems children who bully may face in later years and the need to consider those in intervention plans.

AB - Purpose: Bullying behaviours and other conduct problems often co-occur. However, we do not yet know whether bullying behaviours are associated with early factors and later poor outcomes independently of conduct problems. While there are differing, specific interventions for bullying behaviours and for conduct problems, it is unclear if such specificity is justified given parallels between both behaviours. Methods: We used prospective data from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally-representative sample of 2,232 children. Mothers and teachers reported on children’s bullying behaviours and conduct problems at ages 7 and 10. We collected measures of risk factors, including temperament and family factors, when children were age 5. We assessed behavioural, emotional, educational and social problems when participants reached the ages of 12 and 18. Results: Bullying behaviours and conduct problems co-occurred in childhood. Our findings indicated that bullying behaviours and other conduct problems were independently associated with the same risk factors. Furthermore, they were associated with the same poor outcomes at both age 12 and 18. Despite this, bullying behaviours were uniquely associated with behavioural, emotional, educational and social problems at age 18. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that anti-bullying programmes and interventions aimed at reducing conduct problems could benefit from greater integration. Furthermore, our study highlights the mental health problems children who bully may face in later years and the need to consider those in intervention plans.

M3 - Article

SN - 0933-7954

JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

ER -