Childhood bullying victimization, self-labelling, and help-seeking for mental health problems

Nathalie Oexle; Wagner Ribeiro; Helen L. Fisher; Petra C. Gronholm; Kristin R. Laurens; Pedro Pan; Shanise Owens; Renee Romeo; Nicolas Rüsch; Sara Evans-Lacko

doi:10.1007/s00127-019-01743-5

Childhood bullying victimization, self-labelling, and help-seeking for mental health problems

Nathalie Oexle, Wagner Ribeiro, Helen L. Fisher, Petra C. Gronholm, Kristin R. Laurens, Pedro Pan, Shanise Owens, Renee Romeo, Nicolas Rüsch, Sara Evans-Lacko^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

134 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose

Previous research found sustained high levels of mental health service use among adults who experienced bullying victimization during childhood. This could be due to increased psychopathology among this group, but other factors, such as self-perception as having a mental health problem, might contribute to increased service use. Additionally, the relationship between informal help-seeking for mental health problems and bullying victimization is incompletely understood.

Methods

The present study examined associations between the frequency of bullying victimization and both formal service use and informal help-seeking for mental health problems independent from psychopathology. Data on bullying victimization, service use, informal help-seeking for mental health problems, psychopathology, and self-labelling as a person with mental illness were collected among 422 young people aged 13–22 years

Results

In logistic regression models, controlling for past and current psychopathology and using no bullying victimization as the reference category, we identified a greater likelihood of mental health service use among persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization, as well as a greater likelihood of seeking informal help among persons who experienced occasional victimization. Increased self-identification as a person with mental illness completely mediated the positive association between frequent bullying victimization and mental health service use.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that services to support persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization should focus on improving empowerment and self-perception. Additionally, there might be unserved need for formal support among those who experienced occasional bullying victimization.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	81-88
Number of pages	8
Journal	Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume	55
Issue number	1
Early online date	19 Jul 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01743-5
Publication status	Published - Jan 2020

Keywords

Bullying victimisation
Help-seeking
Mental health problems
Self-labelling
Service use

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/s00127-019-01743-5

Childhood bullying victimization_OEXLE_Accepted24June2019_ePublished19July2019_GOLD VoR (CC BY)Final published version, 452 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Childhood bullying victimization, self-labelling, and help-seeking for mental health problems",

abstract = "PurposePrevious research found sustained high levels of mental health service use among adults who experienced bullying victimization during childhood. This could be due to increased psychopathology among this group, but other factors, such as self-perception as having a mental health problem, might contribute to increased service use. Additionally, the relationship between informal help-seeking for mental health problems and bullying victimization is incompletely understood.MethodsThe present study examined associations between the frequency of bullying victimization and both formal service use and informal help-seeking for mental health problems independent from psychopathology. Data on bullying victimization, service use, informal help-seeking for mental health problems, psychopathology, and self-labelling as a person with mental illness were collected among 422 young people aged 13–22 yearsResultsIn logistic regression models, controlling for past and current psychopathology and using no bullying victimization as the reference category, we identified a greater likelihood of mental health service use among persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization, as well as a greater likelihood of seeking informal help among persons who experienced occasional victimization. Increased self-identification as a person with mental illness completely mediated the positive association between frequent bullying victimization and mental health service use.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that services to support persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization should focus on improving empowerment and self-perception. Additionally, there might be unserved need for formal support among those who experienced occasional bullying victimization.",

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author = "Nathalie Oexle and Wagner Ribeiro and Fisher, {Helen L.} and Gronholm, {Petra C.} and Laurens, {Kristin R.} and Pedro Pan and Shanise Owens and Renee Romeo and Nicolas R{\"u}sch and Sara Evans-Lacko",

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AU - Fisher, Helen L.

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AU - Laurens, Kristin R.

AU - Pan, Pedro

AU - Owens, Shanise

AU - Romeo, Renee

AU - Rüsch, Nicolas

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N2 - PurposePrevious research found sustained high levels of mental health service use among adults who experienced bullying victimization during childhood. This could be due to increased psychopathology among this group, but other factors, such as self-perception as having a mental health problem, might contribute to increased service use. Additionally, the relationship between informal help-seeking for mental health problems and bullying victimization is incompletely understood.MethodsThe present study examined associations between the frequency of bullying victimization and both formal service use and informal help-seeking for mental health problems independent from psychopathology. Data on bullying victimization, service use, informal help-seeking for mental health problems, psychopathology, and self-labelling as a person with mental illness were collected among 422 young people aged 13–22 yearsResultsIn logistic regression models, controlling for past and current psychopathology and using no bullying victimization as the reference category, we identified a greater likelihood of mental health service use among persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization, as well as a greater likelihood of seeking informal help among persons who experienced occasional victimization. Increased self-identification as a person with mental illness completely mediated the positive association between frequent bullying victimization and mental health service use.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that services to support persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization should focus on improving empowerment and self-perception. Additionally, there might be unserved need for formal support among those who experienced occasional bullying victimization.

AB - PurposePrevious research found sustained high levels of mental health service use among adults who experienced bullying victimization during childhood. This could be due to increased psychopathology among this group, but other factors, such as self-perception as having a mental health problem, might contribute to increased service use. Additionally, the relationship between informal help-seeking for mental health problems and bullying victimization is incompletely understood.MethodsThe present study examined associations between the frequency of bullying victimization and both formal service use and informal help-seeking for mental health problems independent from psychopathology. Data on bullying victimization, service use, informal help-seeking for mental health problems, psychopathology, and self-labelling as a person with mental illness were collected among 422 young people aged 13–22 yearsResultsIn logistic regression models, controlling for past and current psychopathology and using no bullying victimization as the reference category, we identified a greater likelihood of mental health service use among persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization, as well as a greater likelihood of seeking informal help among persons who experienced occasional victimization. Increased self-identification as a person with mental illness completely mediated the positive association between frequent bullying victimization and mental health service use.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that services to support persons who experienced frequent bullying victimization should focus on improving empowerment and self-perception. Additionally, there might be unserved need for formal support among those who experienced occasional bullying victimization.

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Childhood bullying victimization, self-labelling, and help-seeking for mental health problems

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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