Bullying Victimization at School and Headache: A Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies

Abstract

Background and objectives.-Being bullied at school is a risk factor for a variety of negative consequences, including somatic problems. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to determine the association between peer victimization and headache in the school-age population.Methods.-A systematic literature search was conducted in September 2013 to identify observational studies that examined the association between being bullied and headache in children and adolescents. Odds ratios (OR) were pooled by using a random-effects model. Moderator and sensitivity analyses were conducted.Results.-Twenty studies, including a total of 173,775 participants, satisfied the pre-stated inclusion criteria. Fourteen studies reported data on the prevalence of headache, which was on average 32.7% (range: 9.1-71.7%) in the bullied group and 19.1% (range: 5.3-46.1%) in the control group. Two separate meta-analyses of the association between being bullied and headache were performed on 3 longitudinal studies (OR = 2.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.19-3.71) and 17 cross-sectional studies (OR = 2.00, 95% confidence interval = 1.70-2.35), respectively. Results showed that bullied children and adolescents have a significantly higher risk for headache compared with non-bullied peers. In the cross-sectional studies, the magnitude of effect size significantly decreased with the increase of the proportion of female participants in the study sample. No further moderators were statistically significant.Conclusions.-The positive association between bullying victimization and headache was confirmed. Further research on the environmental factors that may influence this symptom is needed.

Psychiatric Comorbidity in Childhood and Adolescence Headache

“…Recently, exposure to interpersonal violence has been posed as potential triggers of headache in adults [3, 103] and adolescents [31, 33, 97] although documentation is scarce [65, 75]. …”

Does escaping victimization in elementary school lead to improved health in high school: a comparison of victimization profile groups

“…Evidence is mounting to suggest that victims of peer abuse not only experience serious mental health problems but also suffer from physical health consequences. Studies have already found that victimized children are more likely to report headaches, abdominal pain, sore throats, colds, and mouth sores than their non-victimized peers, even after controlling for initial health differences (Fekkes, Pijpers, & Verloove-Vanhorick, 2006;Gini, Pozzoli, Lenzi, & Vieno, 2014;Nixon, Linkie, Coleman, & Fitch, 2011;Rigby, 1998;Wolke, Woods, Stanford, & Schulz, 2001). In addition, victimized children are more likely to take pain medication (Due, Hansen, Merlo, Andersen, & Holstein, 2007) and visit the school nurse due to illness, as compared to non-victimized children (Vernberg, Nelson, Fonagy, & Twemlow, 2011).…”

Koulukisaaminen ja psykosomaattinen oireilu 4. – 6.-luokkalaisilla tytöillä ja pojilla

“…Kiusaamisessa osallisena olevilla lapsilla on todettu enemmän psykosomaattisia oireita (13,14,15,(37)(38)(39)(40)(41) sekä psyykkisiä ja sosiaalisia ongelmia (12,39,41,42) verrattuna ei kiusattuihin ikätovereihin. Kiusatuilla lapsilla on havaittu monenlaisia oireita: päänsärkyä (38), vatsakipua (13,37,43,44), yö-kastelua (13,43), alakuloisuutta, univaikeuksia (13,15,43), jännittyneisyyttä, huimausta, väsy-mystä (15) sekä huonoa ruokahalua (13,45). Kiusatut ovat raportoineet myös masennusoireista (13,47), heikosta itsetunnosta (46), ahdistuksesta (13,37) sekä yksinäisyydestä (47).…”