Bullying in kids linked to suicide

A review of studies published in the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health has found a link between bullying, being bullied, and suicide among children.

The investigators reviewed 37 studies that looked at bullying and suicide in children and adolescents. Nearly all the studies found links: five of them stated that victims of bullying were two to nine times more likely to report suicidal thoughts. An increased risk for suicidal behavior was also found for the bullies themselves.

However, the studies did not take into acount gender, psychiatric problems, and suicide attempt history, so a causual link could not be determined.

A separate study that examined aggression in children, published in the July/August Child Development, found that preschoolers who are angry, aggressive, and inattentive tend to have fewer playmates than those who do not share these traits.

The researchers observed 97 students in six US preschool classrooms, and analayzed data from teacher reports. Aggressive children tended to be less successful in interacting frequently with many classmates over time compared to non-aggressive children. These findings were true of both boys and girls.