Teens bullied over sexual, gender orientation more likely to attempt suicide

By James Gamble via SWNS

Teenagers bullied over their sexual or gender orientation are the most likely to feel sad or hopeless and attempt suicide, according to a new study.

Researchers found the form of bullying most likely to lead to these feelings in a study of more than 70,000 North American schoolchildren was when they were picked on due to their sexual or gender orientation.

Cyberbullying, social bullying and bullying related to race also showed significant correlations with mental distress and suicide attempts.

But physical bullying or bullying based on religion was not as likely to lead to the same detrimental feelings, the study showed.

The researchers at Drake University in Iowa, say a better understanding of the effects on mental health relating to different forms of bullying could help shape bullying strategies in schools across the globe.

The study focused on data from the 2018 Iowa Youth Survey; a broad questionnaire of both public and private schoolchildren in the 6th grade (aged 11-12), 8th grade (aged 13-14) and 11th grade (aged 16-17).

The research team analyzed more than 70,000 responses for correlations between mental health and bullying.

The unadjusted odds ratios showed that students who reported being physically bullied or bullied based on their religion were no more likely to report feelings of sadness or hopelessness than students who reported not being bullied at all.

However, children bullied because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or with 'hurtful sexual jokes and comments' were consistently linked with experiencing feelings of sadness, hopelessness and even suicide attempts.

Those children who reported being the victim of cyberbullying, social bullying or being bullied due to their race also displayed significant correlations with mental distress.

Professor John Rovers believes a better understanding of these types of bullying and their differing psychological effects could help shape 'bullying mitigation strategies' in schools.

He added: "Bullying hurts. It hurts the victim, and it hurts the bully.

"Nobody comes out better for the experience.”

The findings were published in the journal PLOS One.