The impact of startle reactivity to unpredictable threat on the relation between bullying victimization and internalizing psychopathology. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Radoman, Milena; Akinbo, Fikayo D.; Rospenda, Kathleen M.; Gorka, Stephanie M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychiatric research. Volume 119(2019)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Bullying victimization -- Predictable threat -- Unpredictable threat -- Startle reactivity -- Anxiety -- Depression; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Maladies mentales -- Périodiques; Psychiatry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.09.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3956

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Being bullied has detrimental effects on mental health functioning. Individuals who are highly reactive to unpredictable threats (U-threat) may be particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of being bullied. For them, persistent, unpredictable bullying likely elicits chronic anticipatory anxiety and depression. The aim of the present study was to examine the main and interactive effects of aversive reactivity to U-threat and past-year bullying victimization on current anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods: Seventy-one young adults (ages 17–19) completed a well-validated threat-of-shock task used to probe reactivity to both U-threat and predictable threat (P-threat). Startle eyeblink potentiation was recorded to index aversive responding. Results: We found a main effect of bullying, such that individuals with more bullying experience exhibited greater anxiety and depressive symptoms than individuals with less bullying experience. There was also a bullying by U-threat reactivity interaction such that among individuals with high reactivity to U-threat, more bullying experience was associated with more anxiety and depressive symptoms. Among individuals with low U-threat reactivity, there was no association between bullying and internalizing symptoms. There were no main or interactive effects involving reactivity to P-threat. Conclusions: Together, these results suggest that among individuals who are bullied, those who are sensitive to U-threat are particularly vulnerable to depression and anxiety in young adulthood. These individuals may represent a high-risk group for the development of internalizing psychopathology. Highlights: Examined the effects of bullying and threat sensitivity on internalizing symptoms. In general, more bullying was associated with increased depression and anxiety. Bullying victims sensitive to unpredictable threat (U-threat) had the most symptoms. These individuals may be a phenotype highly sensitive to anxiety and depression.