Tackling Bullying can Reduce Depressive Symptoms in Autistic Teens

More than genetic differences. bullying was found to increase depressive symptoms among autistic teenagers. Therefore, tackling bullying can help reduce depressive symptoms in autistic teenagers.

Bullying was found to increase depressive symptoms among autistic teenagers, reveals a new study.

"Bullying can be detrimental to anyone's mental health, but young people with social communication difficulties and other autistic traits seem to be //particularly vulnerable," said co-author Alan Emond, Professor at the University of Bristol in Britain.

‘Autistic children have more symptoms of depression when they are 10 years older than their peers, and it is continued till they are 18 years of age.’

"To protect autistic children and young people a whole school approach is needed to prevent bullying, coupled with targeted support for vulnerable individuals."

For the study, published in the journal Jama Psychiatry, the researchers used information of 6,091 young people from the Children of the 90s longitudinal study.

The researchers also found that children with autism and those with autistic traits had more symptoms of depression when they were 10 years older than their peers, and it continued at least up to the age of 18.

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Workplace bullying is physical, verbal or psychological abuse at work. It is a deliberate and disrespectful behavior by an employer, manager or group of people.

The researchers did not find any link between having higher genetic tendencies towards autism and depressive symptoms.

"More research needs to be done to understand other pathways contributing to the risk of depression in autism across the life course," said co-author Dheeraj Rai from the University of Bristol.

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Bullying is a harmful action (physical or psychological) carried out by a child against another. It is usually repetitive and unprovoked.

The findings suggest that focusing on the role of traumatic experiences such as bullying could be important and may have the potential to make a real difference to the well-being of autistic people, Rai noted.

Source-IANS