Persistence of bullying from childhood to adolescence - A longitudinal 8-year follow-up study

Objective: To examine factors associated with bullying and victimization fr om age 8 to 16. Method: An 8-year longitudinal study included questions about bullying and victimization at age 8 and 16. Children ware evaluated with Rutter scales b y parents and teachers and with the Child Depression Inventory filled in by the children at age 8. When the children were at the age of 16 parents fil led in the CBCL and adolescents the YSR. Results: About 15% of boys and 7% of girls were bullied and 12% of girls an d 13% of boys were victimized at age 16. Both bullying and victimization at age 16 were associated with a wide range of psychological problems at age 8 and 16, and with referral to child mental health services. Bullying at ag e 8 was associated with bullying at age 16, while victimization at age 8 wa s associated with victimization 8 years later. Conclusions: Bullying and Victimization are often persistent and associated with severe emotional and behavior problems. Preventive efforts should be focused, and targeted at those children who are characterized by both psych ological disturbance and bullying. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.