Developmental relations between ADHD symptoms and bullying perpetration and victimization in adolescence

School bullying among refugee and non-refugee adolescent students in Lebanon

BACKGROUND

School bullying is a significant issue affecting adolescents globally. This study explores the prevalence and predictors of bullying among refugee and non-refugee adolescents in Lebanon, focusing on sociodemographic, protective, and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence and types of bullying and identify significant predictors, including sociodemographic variables, protective factors, and risk factors.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1906 adolescents aged 12-17 from 32 public schools in Lebanon.

METHODS

Logistic regression analysis was used with sequential blocks to evaluate predictors of bullying: (a) sociodemographic variables (age, gender, refugee vs. non-refugee status); (b) protective factors (prosocial behavior, social-emotional assets, and school environment); (c) risk factors (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer relationship issues).

RESULTS

The overall bullying rate was 56.3 %, with verbal bullying being the most common. Significant predictors included younger age (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.35, p < 0.01), male gender (OR = 1.48, p < 0.01), and a negative school environment (OR = 1.62, p < 0.01). Syrian refugee students were more likely to be victims (OR = 2.03, p < 0.01), while Lebanese students were more frequently identified as perpetrators (OR = 1.78, p < 0.01). Protective factors were associated with lower bullying rates, whereas risk factors such as conduct problems and peer relationship difficulties were linked to higher bullying involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The study reveals a high prevalence of bullying and underscores the need for comprehensive anti-bullying strategies. Addressing both protective and risk factors is crucial for creating a safer, more inclusive educational environment for all students.

Bullying Involvement and Subtypes of Disabilities: Who is Likely to be Affected by What?

The current study uses latent class analysis (LCA) and binary logistic regression analysis to explore profiles of bullying and how they might be associated with the types of disabilities. LCA was used to determine a categorization of involvement in bullying among youth with various types of disabilities. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore how profiles of bullying involvement might be associated with types of disabilities. The study uses the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health, a large-scale survey completed on children's health, ages 0-17, in the United States. A total of 139,923 households were screened for eligibility. The study participants consisted of 50,212 caregivers of a child who completed the survey. Findings revealed that among caregivers of children without disabilities, 79.5% reported that their child was uninvolved, and 20.5% reported that their child was a victim of bullying. Children in the developmental disabilities, speech and/or language disorders, and learning disabilities groups, showed significant odds of being in the bullying victim group compared to those without any disabilities. The study did not find that children in any disability groups were likely to be in the perpetrator group.

Dynamic interplay of developing internalising and externalising mental health from early childhood to mid-adolescence: Teasing apart trait, state, and cross-cohort effects

The current study examined the within-child, between-child, and between-cohort effects in the longitudinal relations between and within the internalising and externalising mental health symptoms' domains. Leveraging the data of 5998 children (ages 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 years; 49% female) from the sequential Growing Up in Australia dual-cohort, multigroup longitudinal measurement invariance, and random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were deployed. Multigroup longitudinal measurement invariance revealed that the measurements of peer problems, emotional symptoms, and hyperactivity were strictly invariant, whereas conduct problems were partially strictly invariant across cohorts over time. The two cohorts did not display significant differences in the structural relations between internalising and externalising mental health symptoms, indicating the stability of the findings. In the internalising symptoms' domain, moderate to strong reciprocal effects were found from middle childhood onwards. In the externalising symptoms' domain, the results of reciprocal effects between conduct problems and hyperactivity were mainly not significant. Across domains, the reciprocal associations of emotional symptoms with hyperactivity and conduct problems were sporadic or non-existent. Peer problems were reciprocally associated with conduct problems and hyperactivity from middle childhood onwards. Overall, the findings clearly highlight the interdependence of developing internalising and externalising symptoms and reveal new insights about the early life-course development of internalising and externalising mental health symptoms.

Association between ultra-processed dietary pattern and bullying: the role of deviant behaviors

Background

Ultra-processed foods have been associated with several negative outcomes, but it is not clear whether they are related to bullying perpetration. Moreover, no previous study has investigated the potential role of deviant behaviors as a mediator of this association. Our objective was to evaluate the association between ultra-processed dietary pattern and bullying, and the mediating effect of deviant behaviors in this association, among school adolescents.

Methods

We used data from a representative sample of 9th grade Brazilian adolescents (N = 2,212) from the São Paulo Project for the social development of children and adolescents (SP-PROSO). Exploratory factor analysis was used to obtain the dietary patterns, through questions of frequency of consumption in the last week of several foods. The ultra-processed dietary pattern was considered as exposure. The outcomes were the types of bullying (any type, social exclusion, psychological/verbal aggression, physical aggression, property destruction, and sexual harassment). Deviant behaviors (mediator) were assessed through a score. Mediation analyses were carried out using logistic regression based on the KHB method.

Results

After adjusting for covariates, the mediating effect of deviant behaviors was found in the association between ultra-processed dietary pattern and all the types of bullying perpetration, especially for psychological/verbal aggression (39.4%). A small mediating effect of deviant behaviors in the association of ultra-processed dietary pattern with physical aggression (17.7%) and property destruction (18.5%) was observed, but this effect explained only a small portion of the total effect of such association (significant direct effect).

Conclusion

The ultra-processed dietary pattern was associated with bullying, and the association was mediated through deviant behaviors. Policies and actions for improving the adolescent's diet and managing the adoption of deviant and bullying behaviors by this public are required.

Potential mechanisms underlying the association between feeding and eating disorders and autism

There is a reliable association between autism and Feeding and Eating Disorders. Concerningly, where these two conditions co-occur, clinical outcomes of Feeding and Eating Disorders are significantly worse, and treatment less effective, than when the Feeding and Eating Disorders occur in neurotypical individuals. Problematically, the reason for the association between autism and Feeding and Eating Disorders is poorly understood, which constrains advances in clinical care. This paper outlines several possible mechanisms that may underlie the observed association and suggests ways in which they may be empirically tested. Mechanisms are split into those producing an artefactual association, and those reflecting a genuine link between conditions. Artefactual associations may be due to conceptual overlap in both diagnostic criteria and measurement, Feeding and Eating Disorders causing transient autistic traits, or the association being non-specific in nature. A genuine association between autism and Feeding and Eating Disorders may be due to common causal factors, autism directly or indirectly causing Feeding and Eating Disorders, and Feeding and Eating Disorders being a female manifestation of autism.

Peer functioning difficulties may exacerbate symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and irritability over time: a temporal network analysis

BACKGROUND

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been consistently found to experience impairments in peer functioning. Irritability is highly prevalent in children with ADHD and may worsen social impairments given the frequent temper outbursts and low frustration tolerance characterizing irritability. However, it is still unclear how ADHD and irritability symptoms interact with peer functioning difficulties over time. Assessing these temporal dynamics using a novel longitudinal approach (i.e., temporal network analysis) may reveal precise targets for intervention.

METHODS

This study investigates the dynamic associations between ADHD symptoms, irritability, and peer functioning in a community sample of 739 children (ages 8-11 years, Mage = 10.06 [SD = 0.59], 47.77% females) assessed at three timepoints, 6 months apart, in a school-based study. Parents reported their child's ADHD symptoms using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP-IV), and irritability symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) irritability items. Children's peer functioning (i.e., peer acceptance, peer rejection, number of friendships, and victimization) was measured via peer nomination. To estimate the longitudinal associations between the variables, we built a graphical vector autoregression model for panel data.

RESULTS

The longitudinal network highlighted that poor peer functioning contributed to increases in symptoms over time. Specifically, (1) physical victimization predicted increases in inattention, hyperactivity, and irritability; (2) peer rejection predicted increases in inattention, which in turn predicted increases in irritability; (3) peer acceptance predicted decreases in inattention and irritability; and (4) higher numbers of mutual friendships increased inattention.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that a negative social environment involving physical bullying and rejection may aggravate ADHD and irritability symptoms. Conversely, positive social interactions, such as being liked by peers, may improve inattention and irritability symptoms. Fostering social-emotional skills and positive social interactions and environments in children with ADHD and irritability may be a promising target for future interventions to reduce symptoms.

Association Between Dietary Patterns and Bullying Among Adolescents in Sao Paulo-Brazil

Previous studies have assessed the association between food consumption and bullying perpetration, but most of them have not broadly assessed food consumption, neither the distinction between forms of bullying. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between dietary patterns with bullying roles and its different types of bullying perpetration among adolescents. Data on a representative sample of ninth-grade students (N = 2,163; mean age = 14.8 years) taken from Sao Paulo Project for the social development of children and adolescents (SP-PROSO) were used. The independent variables were healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns obtained by exploratory factor analysis. The dependent variables were bullying role (victim-only, bully-only, bully-victim) and bullying perpetration (any type, social exclusion, psychological/verbal aggression, physical aggression, property destruction, sexual harassment). Multinomial and logistic regression models were performed for the total sample and stratified by sex (only for association with sexual harassment), adjusting for covariates. Adolescents who engaged in a healthy dietary pattern were less likely to be bullies (RR 0.67 [0.49, 0.92]), while adolescents with an unhealthy dietary pattern were more likely to be bully-victims (RR 1.29 [1.12, 1.48]). Unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with any type of bullying perpetration (OR 1.24 [1.12, 1.38]), mainly with sexual harassment and physical aggression. Boys who had an unhealthy dietary pattern were more likely to sexually harass another adolescent (OR 2.10 [1.20, 3.66]). In conclusion, adolescents who had a healthy dietary pattern were less likely to perpetrate bullying. Unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with bullying perpetration, especially with sexual harassment by boys.

School bullying in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Bullying is a common form of violence among children and adolescents. Young people with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions might have an increased risk of bullying victimisation and perpetration. We aimed to assess the odds of bullying involvement and its association with mental health measures in these populations.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, ERIC, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Web of Science Core Collection, PsycArticles, and PsycInfo databases from inception up to Aug 8, 2023, and included articles reporting data on bullying outcomes of current bullying (within the past year) among children and adolescents (aged 4-17 years) with a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental or psychiatric condtion provided by a health professional. Bullying type was classified as traditional (physical, verbal, or relational) or as cyberbullying (intentional and repeated harm inflicted through electronic devices and social media), and bullying involvement was classified as victimisation, perpetration, and perpetration-victimisation. Mental health measures were collected and the associations with bullying involvement assessed. We used random-effects meta-analyses to estimate prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) for bullying involvement. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic, and publication bias was tested with Egger's regression. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021235043.

FINDINGS

We included 212 studies in the meta-analysis. The total sample comprised 126 717 cases (mean age 12·34 years [SD 1·82], 37·6% girls) and 504 806 controls (12·5 years [SD 1·86], 47·6% girls). For traditional bullying, the pooled prevalence was 42·2% (95% CI 39·6-44·9) for victimisation, 24·4% (22·6-26·3) for perpetration, and 14·0% (11·4-17·1) for perpetration-victimisation. For cyberbullying, the prevalence was 21·8% (16·0-28·9) for victimisation, 19·6% (13·4-27·7) for perpetration, and 20·7% (8·4-42·6) for perpetration-victimisation. Compared with controls, young people with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions were more likely to be involved in traditional and cyberbullying as a victim (OR 2·85 [95% CI 2·62-3·09] and 2·07 [1·63-2·61]), perpetrator (2·42 [2·20-2·66] and 1·91 [1·60-2·28]), and perpetrator-victim (3·66 [2·83-4·74] and 1·85 [1·05-3·28]). Bullying involvement was associated with higher scores in mental health measures in young people with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions, particularly internalising symptoms and externalising symptoms.

INTERPRETATION

Our study underscores bullying involvement as a prevalent risk factor in young people with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions that might add to their disease burden through its negative effects on mental health. Interventions targeting these vulnerable populations are warranted to improve their mental health and their future social integration.

FUNDING

Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red.

The student-teacher relationship and ADHD symptomatology: A meta-analysis

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) typically experience significant academic and social impairments, including problem behaviors in the classroom. Existing research suggests students who present with ADHD symptoms are more likely to have relationships with their teachers that are low in closeness and high in conflict. However, research about the quality of relationships between teachers and students with ADHD symptoms remains quantitatively un-synthesized. The present meta-analysis quantitatively describes the overall quality of student-teacher relationships for children who present with ADHD symptoms according to the relational dimensions of closeness and conflict. Database searches of PsycInfo, ERIC, and ProQuest (theses and dissertations) were conducted to collect a sample of 27 quantitative studies for statistical analyses. A total of 47 effect sizes (N = 17,236) were included in the analyses. Results confirm the trends seen in the literature. Children with symptoms of ADHD tended to have relationships with their teachers that were low in closeness (r = -0.170) and high in conflict (r = 0.414). Additionally, eight moderator analyses were conducted (i.e., grade level, informant types, informant consistency, sample type, reported comorbidity, gender, and ADHD presentation) to assess their effect on the link between ADHD symptoms and student-teacher relationship quality. The results of this meta-analysis provide insight into the quality of relationships that students who exhibit ADHD symptoms form with their teachers also may inform intervention programs that aim to best support students.

Features of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and antisocial behaviour in a general population-based sample of adults

BACKGROUND

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is known to be a risk factor for antisocial and delinquent behaviour, but there is still a lack of information on how features of ADHD relate to offending behaviour among adults not already defined by their offending.

AIMS

Our aim was to add to knowledge about relationships between ADHD and antisocial behaviour among adults in the general population by answering the following questions: (A) Does the level of self-reported ADHD features relate to criminal and non-criminal antisocial behaviour? (B) To what extent are self-ratings of ADHD features independent of socio-demographic features previously identified as predictors of antisocial behaviour?

METHODS

A sample of adults was originally recruited to study public response to the COVID-19 outbreak through an online panel to be representative of the Israeli population. Among other scales, the 2025 participants completed an ADHD self-report scale, an antisocial behaviour self-report scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire probing for age, gender, urbanity, place of birth, socioeconomic status (education and income), family status (being in a relationship and having children) and religiosity.

RESULTS

Higher mean totals for the inattention and hyperactivity ADHD scale scores were associated with higher mean antisocial behaviour scores. These relationships were only slightly affected by socio-demographic variables, including sex, age, education and income.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that not only may features of ADHD, even below a diagnostic threshold, constitute a risk factor for antisocial behaviour, but also that the self-rated levels of these problems covary. These findings are important for informing the early detection of risk of antisocial behaviour in the general population and its prevention.

Developmental Risk, Adversity Experiences and ADHD Clinical Profiles: A Naturalistic Exploratory Study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a persistent neurodevelopmental disorder that results from complex interactions of multiple genes and environmental risk and adversity factors. Some researchers have suggested a need for additional research into differing clinical presentations of ADHD for further classification. In this context, this study aimed to investigate whether increases in risk and adversity factors increase the severity of ADHD and the number of comorbid psychiatric disorders. This is a naturalistic retrospective chart review exploratory study in 100 patients 16 years or older who have a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, using the Mann–Whitney test for parametric data and the Chi-square and Kruskal–Wallis p value tests for non-parametric and categorical data. Qualitative data were tabulated and described. The study found that (1) the average number of comorbidities increases with the severity of ADHD, (2) the average number of risk and adversity factors increases with the severity of ADHD, (3) the number of risk and adversity factors were positively associated with the number of comorbidities, and (4) Level of education was negatively associated with the number of risk and adversity factors and the number of comorbidities. The implications of these findings are discussed, and future research in this important area is suggested.

Understanding the Perpetuation of Cyberbullying Victimization in Adolescents: The Role of Executive Functions

The consequences of cyberbullying victimization can lead to its perpetuation over time, initiating a vicious cycle. Thus, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to the persistence of victimization. This study aimed to examine some longitudinal mechanisms involved in the perpetuation of cyberbullying victimization in adolescents. The secondary aim was to study the protective role of executive functions (cognitive flexibility and selective attention) in this process, filling a gap in the literature. Sex differences were also studied. The sample consisted of 698 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age (M = 14.59, SD = 1.36; 40.83% girls) from the Basque Country (Spain). Adolescents participated in a longitudinal study with three waves, in which 5–6 months elapsed between waves. The participants completed measures of executive functions in wave 1, of cyberbullying perpetration and depressive symptoms in waves 1 and 2, and of cyberbullying victimization in all three waves. The findings indicated that cyberbullying victimization was perpetuated through an increase of cyberbullying perpetration and depressive symptoms. Concerning executive functions, cognitive flexibility attenuated the impact of cyberbullying victimization on cyberbullying perpetration and depressive symptoms, and these in turn predicted lower levels of future victimization. Sex differences revealed that selective attention acted as a risk factor for cyberbullying victimization in girls and as a protective factor in boys. The results highlight the importance of considering mediating mechanisms involved in the perpetuation of cyberbullying victimization as well as the beneficial role played by cognitive flexibility in reducing the stability of cyberbullying victimization.

Cohort Profile: The Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso)

The Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso) began in 2004 in response to the need for a better evidence base to support optimal child social development and prevent crime and violence. Since then, the study has tracked the development of a diverse sample of youths (N = 1,675 in the target sample; ~50% female) from age 7 (n = 1,360) to age 20 (n = 1,180), with primary data collection waves at ages 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, and 20. The study uses a multi-method, multi-informant design that combines teacher, youth, and parent reports with observational and behavioural measures, biosampling, functional imaging, and ecological momentary assessment. Analyses of the data have contributed important evidence to a diversity of topics in child and adolescent development, illuminating the developmental roots of crime and aggression, the impacts of exposure to different forms and combinations of victimisation, and trajectories of mental health and neurodevelopmental symptoms.

Characteristics of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Subtypes in Children Classified Using Quantitative Electroencephalography

PURPOSE

This study used quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) to investigate the characteristics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

There were 69 subjects (42 with ADHD and 27 neurotypical (NT)) in this study. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant for psychiatric diagnostic evaluation. We measured the absolute and relative power in 19 channels and analyzed QEEG using the following frequency ranges: delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha 1 (8-10 Hz), alpha 2 (10-12 Hz), beta 1 (12-15 Hz), beta 2 (15-20 Hz), beta 3 (20-30 Hz), and gamma (30-45 Hz). Group analyses and EEG noise preprocessing were conducted using iSyncBrain, a cloud-based, artificial intelligence EEG analysis platform. Analysis of covariance adjusted for IQ, age, and sex was used.

RESULTS

QEEG analysis revealed three ADHD subtypes, characterized by (A) elevated relative fast alpha and beta power, (B) elevated absolute slow frequency (delta and theta power), or (C) elevated absolute and relative beta power. A significant difference was found in the Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) among the four groups (df=3, F=8.004, p<0.001); group C had the highest score (25.31±11.16), followed by group A (21.67±13.18). The score of group B (12.64±7.84) was similar to that of the NT group (11.07±6.12) and did not reach the cut-off point of the K-ARS. In the Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS), group B score (55.82±23.17) was significantly higher than the NT group score (42.81±13.26).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that children with ADHD do not constitute a neurophysiologically homogenous group. Children with QEEG subtype B (elevated slow frequency) may be difficult to distinguish from normal children using the K-ARS, which is the most common screening tool for ADHD. Moreover, parents of children with this subtype may be less sensitive to observing ADHD symptoms.

Social Anxiety in Victimization and Perpetration of Cyberbullying and Traditional Bullying in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying are prevalent among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aims of this study were to examine the role of social anxiety in victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying in adolescents with ASD and ADHD in Taiwan. A total of 219 adolescents with ASD and 287 adolescents with ADHD aged 11–18 years and their caregivers were recruited from the child psychiatry outpatient clinics into this study. The associations of social anxiety with victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying were examined using logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that after the effects of sex, age, and autistic social impairment were controlled, social anxiety increased the risk of being a victim of cyberbullying (Odds Ratios (OR) = 1.048; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.013–1.084), a victim of traditional bullying (OR = 1.066; 95% CI: 1.036–1.097), and a perpetrator of traditional bullying (OR = 1.061; 95% CI: 1.027–1.096) in adolescents with ASD. After the effects of sex, age, and ADHD symptoms were controlled for, social anxiety increased the risk of being a victim of traditional bullying in adolescents with ADHD (OR = 1.067; 95% CI: 1.039–1.096). Social anxiety was significantly associated with several forms of bullying involvement in adolescents with ASD and ADHD and warrants being considered into prevention and intervention programs for bullying involvement.