When it comes to bullying, girls may be at a higher risk for depression-related substance use, according to a report published in December 2010's Prevention Science. While the negative effects of bullying, like depression and increased suicide risk, have been well-established, this study highlights yet another consequence of bullying.
Depression and Bullying
Dr. Jeremy Luk and colleagues collected data from 1,495 tenth grade students in a national study as part of the 2005/2006 US Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey (HBSC). Participating students completed self-report measures of bullying victimization, substance use, and depressive symptoms.
Measures of substance use were drinking alcohol, being drunk, smoking, and marijuana use over the last 30 days.
The study's results confirmed that both depressive symptoms and substance use were associated with being a victim of bullying. In fact, they found that as bullying episodes increased, so did the student's depressive symptoms.
Girls and Substance Use
Additionally, the results showed significant gender differences, indicating that depressive symptoms may be linked to substance use in bullied girls, but not in boys.
The researchers caution that while depression is still an important issue among boys, especially victimized boys, it may not connect to their substance use in the same way.
What Parents Can Do
If you suspect or know that your child is being bullied, it is important to try and stop it. This may mean reporting it to the appropriate authorities, like website administrators for cyberbullying, or school administrators for in-school harassment or anti-gay bullying.
If your child is being threatened or physically harmed, you should contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Parents should also be familiar of the signs and symptoms of depression, which may include:
- Sadness
- Loneliness
- Unexplained physical ailments
- Feeling worthless
- Hopelessness
- Appetite and sleeping pattern changes
- Withdrawal from friends and family
Additionally, parents of bullied or depressed children should watch out for substance use and abuse, especially in girls exhibiting signs of depression.
If you believe that your child is depressed or is abusing substances, it is important to talk to a medical or mental health professional about your concerns and seek treatment for your child.
Treatment for your child can not only help her through depression and possible substance use, but can teach her the coping skills to stand up against bullying in the future.
Sources:
Jeremy W. Luk, Jing Wang, and Bruce G. Simons-Morton. Bullying Victimization and Substance Use Among U.S. Adolescents: Mediation by Depression. Prevention Science, 2010. 11: 355-359.
Stopbullying.org. Wired Safety Organization. Accessed: February 04, 2011. http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/
The Society for Prevention Research. Girls Who Are Bullied Are at Risk for Substance Use Through Depression. Accessed: 02/01/2011. http://www.preventionscience.org/Bullying%20Girls%20Depression%20Substance%20Use%20December%202010%20FINAL%20Jan%2019%202011.pdf
