Associations between bullying involvement, protective factors, and mental health among American Indian youth

Bibliographic Data

ID9054686
AuthorsKari Gloppen (0000-0002-6164-8658, University of Minnesota), Barbara Mcmorris, Barbara J Mcmorris (0000-0001-9605-0931, University of Minnesota), Amy L Gower (0000-0001-9852-9196, University of Minnesota), Merrill Eisenberg (0000-0002-7730-4913, University of Minnesota), Marla Eisenberg
Year2018
Volume88
Issue4
Pages413-421
Publication date2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9432 • E-ISSN: 1939-0025
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/ort0000284
PMID28816487
OpenAlexW2747051413
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited25

Bullying involvement as a victim or perpetrator is associated with depression and suicidality, and American Indian (AI) youth experience a disproportionately high rate of these mental health issues. This study assessed whether AI young people involved in bullying were more likely to experience negative mental health problems than AI youth who were not involved in bullying, and identified protective factors that might support this particularly vulnerable population. Data come from 1,409 8th, 9th, and 11th Grade AI students who completed the 2013 Minnesota Student Survey. Logistic regression models estimated associations between bullying involvement and internalizing symptoms and suicidality. Selected protective factors (internal assets, empowerment, positive student-teacher relationships, and feeling safe at school) were also examined as independent variables. All forms of bullying perpetration and victimization were associated with increased risk for mental health problems (odds ratio [OR]: 1.57-2.87). AI youth who reported higher levels of protective factors were less likely to report internalizing symptoms and suicidality even in the presence of bullying involvement. For example, AI youth who reported high levels of internal assets had half the odds of reporting internalizing symptoms compared with those with low levels of internal assets (OR = 0.53, confidence interval [CI] 0.38, 0.74). Findings suggest that, similar to a general sample of students, bullying-involved AI students are significantly more likely to experience mental health problems. Promoting school as a safe place and incorporating culturally relevant programming to promote internal assets such as positive identity, social competence, and empowerment among AI students could help reduce the negative effects of bullying involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record

Environmental health · Feeling · Injury prevention · Logistic regression · Mental health · Occupational safety and health · Odds ratio · Poison control · Population · Protective factor · Psychiatry · Suicide prevention · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Development and Social Support

Tools

Open DOI