Cross-lagged model of bullying victimization and mental health problems in children with autism in middle to older childhood.
Geovanna Rodriguez, Kim Drastal, Sigan L Hartley
PMID 32921150WHAT IT FOUND
For children with autism, being bullied led to higher anxiety and withdrawal a year later.
However, bullying did not predict later aggression or hyperactivity. The reverse was also not true: mental health problems did not predict future bullying.
Key findings
01Mother-reported bullying victimization at Time 1 was significantly associated with higher teacher-reported internalizing mental health problems at Time 2.
02There was no significant association between Time 1 bullying victimization and Time 2 externalizing mental health problems.
03Initial levels of internalizing mental health problems were not significantly related to subsequent bullying victimization.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample was largely non-Hispanic White and from two-parent households, limiting generalizability. Bullying victimization was assessed only by mother report, which may underestimate frequency compared to child self-report. Mental health outcomes were assessed only by teacher report, which may underestimate internalizing problems compared to self-report. The study only measured the frequency of bullying, not its severity or type.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that treating bullying victimization will automatically reduce aggression or hyperactivity in children with autism, as this study found no longitudinal link between bullying and later externalizing problems.