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    Depressed Kids May Be Targets for Bullying, Study Suggests

    HealthDay – Wed, Feb 8, 2012

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Children with depression are at increased risk for bullying, the results of a new study suggest.

    The finding challenges the widely held belief that bullying leads to psychological problems such as depression, according to the Arizona State University researchers.

    "Often the assumption is that problematic peer relationships drive depression. We found that depression symptoms predicted negative peer relationships," Karen Kochel, an assistant research professor in the School of Social and Family Dynamics, said in a university news release.

    "We examined the issue from both directions but found no evidence to suggest that peer relationships forecasted depression among this school-based sample of adolescents," she added.

    The researchers analyzed data collected from 486 children from fourth to sixth grade and found that being depressed in fourth grade predicted bullying in fifth grade and lack of peer acceptance in sixth grade.

    The findings are published in the Feb. 7 online edition of the journal Child Development.

    "Teachers, administrators and parents need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of depression and the possibility that depression is a risk factor for problematic peer relations," Kochel said.

    She noted that positive peer relationships are essential for adapting to aspects of life including academic success and good mental health.

    "If adolescent depression forecasts peer relationship problems, then recognizing depression is very important at this particular age. This is especially true given that social adjustment in adolescence appears to have implications for functioning throughout an individual's lifetime," Kochel said.

    Because kids usually start spending more time with their peers and less time with their parents during adolescence, school may be the best place to uncover and address signs of depression in these children, the researchers noted.

    More information

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more about bullying.

     

    15 comments

    • Dre
      Dre  •  3 mths ago
      In a related study, it is suggested that kids who stand up for themselves and FIGHT back,
      instead of telling them to cower in the corner or snitch they would no longer have to deal with bullies. We live in a society where fighting is wrong, standing up for oneself is wrong, disagreeing is wrong, conflict is wrong, arguing is wrong and anything having a synonym to
      antagonization is wrong. We are teaching our kids to keep everything to themselves, to keep eveything bottled in, to not communicate, to not voice their opinions, to not offend. This is the reason why there are both bullies and kids more subseptible to being bullied.
      • Kirstin
        Kirstin 3 mths ago
        I wish that worked. I actually didn't get away from the bullies until about the time I *stopped* getting angry and fighting back. I agree that you need to stand up for yourself, and you need to communicate openly, but fighting back can backfire spectacularly. Especially if the reason you're being picked on is because your so much smaller than your classmates.
      • David
        David 3 mths ago
        How do you propose to fight back? Physical fighting? Verbal fighting? I think bullying is harassment, assault and battery and kids that are bullied should report it to the police. The police should arrest the bullies. I don't understand why that isn't happening.
      • Dre
        Dre 3 mths ago
        I would agree with your approach David if we were living in a utopia. As for fighting back, whatever it takes. Verbal fighting, if necessary physical confrontation. Your solution of ignoring the problem Kristen is the reason why kids get their #$%$ kicked on a daily basis. If bullies see that you won't do anything, they see you as easy prey.
    • d e
      d e  •  3 mths ago
      This just in, getting your #$%$ kicked and your lunch money stolen at school every day causes depression...it took a real crack team to figure that one out...sheesh...
      • d e
        d e 3 mths ago
        I'm done commenting on yahoo stories, and I'm done with your stupid #$%$ HOLE site, you suck and I'm done with you
    • Kirstin
      Kirstin  •  3 mths ago
      I can completely believe this. Bullies are predators, and they seek victims. They seek the weak, and depressed people are weak. But it's interesting to see that bullying is not an indicator of later becoming depressed.
    • Spot
      Spot  •  3 mths ago
      It's the bullying that causes depression.
      • Kirstin
        Kirstin 3 mths ago
        You would think so; that's the common sense expectation. But the study found that wasn't true. It's always interesting when science defies our expectations.
    • HANK HILL
      HANK HILL  •  3 mths ago
      hit the gym! be like rocky or Arnold! break the bully's bones if you have to!!
    • Another way
      Another way  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      I have experienced this situation first hand with one of my kids and my friends kid-who both had some academic difficulties at school--they became friends in tutoring. They were not depressed but not as confident as they could be--- you know, the shy nice kids who needed encouragement. But no they were not depressed until middle school when bullying started-- and after a while, yes there was depression... it took a long time to get over. Help from parents, family, friends and just plain growing up and maturing, realising that everyone is special. Also as kids get older, they realize that the kids that are aggressive in middle school are not so successful down the road. People get sick of these bullies. I suppose a child could be depressed and attract bullying but it is not the only case scenario.
    • Will
      Will  •  Albuquerque, New Mexico  •  3 mths ago
      I agree with Boppity, the rich are arrogant and snotty. They look down on others. That is not Christ-like behavior.
    • RR
      RR  •  Seattle, Washington  •  3 mths ago
      I had a bully we I was a kid...until I stood up for myself and punched him in the nose. But times were different then...I was expected to defend myself....but now we raise our kids to be liberal panty waists...great job libbies
      • ILuvCats
        ILuvCats 3 mths ago
        Oh come on. I'm liberal, and I think it would be better if kids stuck up for themselves better too, and sometimes that means a punch in the face of a bully.
      • Kirstin
        Kirstin 3 mths ago
        Hah. I tried that. Got broken bones and detention to show for it. It didn't stop the bullying. That works for some people, and it works in the movies, but it doesn't work for everybody. To often, it just makes the bullies madder.
    • David
      David  •  Denver, Colorado  •  3 mths ago
      I was bullied by my Dad and then I got bullied by my classmates. No where to turn; no where to go but 6 feet under.This is a life long problem. When it happens to children they call it bullying but when it happens to adults it is called harassment, assault and battery. The police should arrest the bullies. I don't understand why that isn't happening.
    • Anon
      Anon  •  Brunswick, Maine  •  3 mths ago
      Was this study headed by Professor Obvious?
    • HANK HILL
      HANK HILL  •  3 mths ago
      buy a gun!
    • pc_notme
      pc_notme  •  3 mths ago
      Well I can't believe the liberal, progressive self esteem policies such as everyone wins a trophy and no one loses is a failure. LOL.
    • cw
      cw  •  Mattoon, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      Bullying has always been a feature of the school environment. It happened to me, rather randomly, no "depression" or other marked feature set me apart, as these so-called mental health experts are so keen to define and "treat". This feature of our culture, of medicalizing so many aspects of everyday life-which is the case with the thorough "victimization" of the bullied-has been the singlemost powerful tool for those who act as our social engineers. A most emasculating presence, to be sure.
    • Boppity
      Boppity  •  3 mths ago
      They tell us that bullies are picked on themselves, or have self-esteem issues, or are abused children. Not true. The biggest bullies are the rich popular kids who have everything going for them.
      • Linda
        Linda 3 mths ago
        The biggest bullies are kids whos parents refuse to believe their kids could do such a thing and just let it go. Basically giving them permission to continue going it over and over. I know, I witnessed it first hand and it still continues.
    • what
      what  •  Washington, District of Columbia  •  3 mths ago
      Absolutely true! Depressed kids have less self esteem and find it harder to stand up for themselves. You can read about my bullying and depression in the book Life of Death. The author is George Mason.
     Post a comment
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