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Bullying and psychosocial adjustment among children with and without asthma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2021

Kevin C. Runions ,
Donna S. Cross ,
Rena Vithiatharan ,
Mark Everard  and
Graham Hall
Kevin C. Runions*
Affiliation:
Health Promotion & Education Research, Telethon Kids Institute/University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia Community Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Western Australian Department of Health, Perth, Australia
Donna S. Cross
Affiliation:
Health Promotion & Education Research, Telethon Kids Institute/University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Rena Vithiatharan
Affiliation:
Health Promotion & Education Research, Telethon Kids Institute/University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Mark Everard
Affiliation:
School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Graham Hall
Affiliation:
Paediatric Respiratory Physiology, Telethon Kids Institute/University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Children with asthma face serious mental health risk, but the pathways remain unclear. This study aimed to examine bullying victimisation and perpetration in children with asthma and a comparison sample without a chronic health condition, and the role of bullying in moderating psychosocial adjustment outcomes for those with asthma. A sample of children with (n = 24) and without asthma (n = 39), and their parents, were recruited from hospital clinics. Parents rated children’s psychosocial adjustment; children provided self-report of bullying victimisation and perpetration; from which co-occurring bully/victim status was derived. No differences in mean perpetration or victimisation were found, but children with asthma were more likely to be bully/victims (involved both as target and perpetrator), compared to those without asthma. Children with asthma who were victims of bullying had greater peer problems and overall adjustment problems; bully/victims did not show this pattern. Children with asthma may be more likely to be bully/victims, and those who are victims of bullying may be at elevated risk for psychosocial adjustment problems and require particular support in this area from school counsellors and psychologists.

Keywords

bullyingasthmamental healthchildrenvictimisation
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , June 2021 , pp. 36 - 45
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Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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