Speaker
Description
Bullying remains a central issue for youth, educators, parents, and schools. One of the most concerning effects of bullying victimization is suicidal ideation. There are numerous reports of adolescents committing suicide as a result of bullying. However, it is unclear if the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation is the same for students with IEPs. Further, it is also unclear if mental health concerns mediate the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation and, if the mediating role is different for students with IEPs when compared to students without IEPs. We used a statewide anonymous survey of high school students’ bullying victimization, mental health, and suicidal to address these gaps in the literature. Using multilevel modeling and structural equation modeling, we found that students with IEPs reported higher levels of bullying victimization, mental health concerns, and suicidal ideation. However, there was no moderating effect of IEP status on bullying victimization and suicidal ideation. The mediation model found that students with IEPs reported that bullying victimization has a larger impact on their suicidal ideations than students without IEPs when accounting for mental health. However, the direct effect of mental health concerns on suicidal ideation was smaller for students with IEPs than students without IEPs. Given these results, it is necessary for schools and educational professional to review the supports and programming delivered in schools, and consider the differential effects for youth who are most at risk for bullying involvement.
Keywords
Bullying Prevention
Mental Health
Suicide Prevention
| Please indicate what type of scientific contribution it is | Quantitative method study |
|---|---|
| Please also indicate what kind of contribution it is: | Scientific |
