Longitudinal consequences of adolescent bullying perpetration and victimisation: a study of students in Victoria, Australia.

AIMS: To examine the associations between self-reported bullying perpetration and victimisation in Years 7 and 10 and a range of psychosocial outcomes in Year 11.

METHOD: This analysis draws on data from the International Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of 5769 students from Victoria, Australia and Washington State, United States who were recruited through schools in Years 5, 7 and 9 in 2002. Data for the current results are taken from participants in the youngest (Year 5) Victorian cohort of the study.

RESULTS: Rates of bullying victimisation exceeded 30% and up to one in five students had engaged in bullying. Adjusted logistic regression analyses revealed that bullying perpetration, and bullying victimisation in Year 7 did not significantly predict psychosocial outcomes in Year 11. Bullying perpetration in Year 10 was associated with an increased likelihood of theft, violent behaviour and binge drinking. Year 10 bullying victimisation was associated with an increased likelihood of Year 11 depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Prevention approaches that target bullying perpetration and victimisation are necessary. Programmes that lessen bullying may also have an impact on other proximally related behaviours, including binge drinking and depression.