Bullying as a predictor of offending, violence and later life outcomes

Abstract

Aim The main aim of this paper is to investigate to what extent self‐reported bullying at age 14 predicts later offending, violence and other life outcomes. Method In the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, 411 South London males were followed up from age 8–10 to age 48–50, using repeated face‐to‐face interviews and searches of criminal records. Results Bullying at age 14 predicted violent convictions between ages 15 and 20, self‐reported violence at age 15–18, low job status at age 18, drug use at age 27–32, and an unsuccessful life at age 48. These results held up after controlling for explanatory and behavioural childhood risk factors at age 8–10. Conclusions Bullying might increase the likelihood of these later outcomes. Interventions that decrease bullying would most likely be followed by decreases in violent offending, drug use, and unsuccessful lives. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.