Exposure to childhood parental bereavement and risk of school bullying victimization

Abstract

Objective

Parental bereavement is detrimental to youth mental health, yet its potential impact on youth bullying remains unknown. We aimed to examine the association of early exposure to parental death with school bullying victimization, and further assess whether youth's age when bereavement occurred, sex, and urbanicity modify the association.

Method

This study used a large multi-site sample (N = 21,489 youth aged 10–17) from the Mental Health Survey for Children and Adolescents in Yunnan Province, China, 2019 to 2021. Childhood parental bereavement data were based on self-report of any parental bereavement. Current bullying victimization was measured using the Olweus Questionnaire. Logistic regression model accounting for the survey design was used to estimate the association.

Results

597 participants (2.8 %) experienced a parental death. 3283 individuals (15.3 %) reported current bullying victimization in the school. Youth's parental bereavement was associated with greater likelihood of bullying victimization (aOR 1.42 [95 % CI 1.12–1.81]) and frequent victimization (aOR = 1.44 [95 % CI 1.08–1.90]). Maternal death, girls, youth from rural areas, and those who experienced bereavement at older ages were more likely to experience bullying victimization. Maternal death was associated with elevated risk of bullying victimization among youth with parental death at older ages, boys, and youth from urban areas.

Conclusions

Early exposure to parental bereavement increased the risk of school bullying victimization and frequent victimization. The sex of the deceased parent, age when bereavement occurred, sex of youth participant, and urban-rural residence modified the observed association. Tailored interventions for youth who experienced parental bereavement could consider in addressing school bullying.