1. The Relationship between Bullying and Suicide in a Sample of 53,000 Young Minnesotans
- Author
-
Baker, Timothy D. and Hoover, John H.
- Abstract
Data from the spring 2010 Minnesota student survey were analyzed in order to quantify the risk for suicide ideation as a function of bullying variability. Other factors available from the survey included alcohol and other drug use, within-family violence and abuse, mental health symptoms. In addition, a factor analysis revealed a protective connectedness factor (with family, community, and educators). A principal component analysis was conducted to determine systematic variables that were subsequently entered into a logistical regression equation. The bullying factor (victimization plus some mild bullying), alcohol and other drug use, mental health indicators and gender (coded as Female), and family violence all significantly and strongly predicted suicide ideation among 53,000 Minnesota youth. Connectedness with family, school, and community turned out to be a protective factor (e.g., demonstrated a negative correlation with suicidal thoughts). Additional results demonstrated that bullying also was associated with with self-reported suicide attempts.
- Published
- 2013