Bullying and Health Related Quality of Life among Adolescents-A Systematic Review

Health-related quality of life is among global health goals not only in adulthood but also in childhood and adolescence. Being a multi-component construct, health-related quality of life covers various domains, such as physical and psychological wellbeing and social and environmental areas. Bullying might significantly influence those domains especially in adolescence, a period of life when numerous personal and interpersonal transformations are experienced. Therefore, the aim of the current systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship of bullying with the health-related quality of adolescents' lives. An electronic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, and 3621 full-text articles were identified. After a selection process, 12 studies covering diagnosis, prevention and treatment for each of the three sections adolescents, health related quality of life and bullying were reviewed. An overall reduction in health-related quality of life in regard to bullying appeared from the studies analyzed, as well as a decline in adolescent mental health. Different bullying types were identified as causing harm to various adolescents' health-related quality of life domains. These findings may contribute to effective bullying management in schools and/or societal settings, and inform intervention strategies for maintaining the quality of life of adolescents being bullied.

Automated summary

The aim of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between bullying and the health-related quality of life of adolescents. The study found that bullying resulted in an overall reduction in health-related quality of life and a decline in adolescent mental health. Different types of bullying were identified as causing harm to various domains of adolescents' quality of life. These findings are important for effective bullying management and intervention strategies to maintain the quality of life of bullied adolescents.