The Bipolar Brain: How Bullying Affects Mental Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31958/proceedingsoficresh.v4i.109Keywords:
bipolar, brain, bullying, mental healthAbstract
Bipolar disorder is a complex mental health condition that can affect brain structure and function. Bullying can be a significant stressor that can exacerbate bipolar symptoms and affect mental health. This paper aims to explore the impact of bullying on brain structure and function in individuals with bipolar disorder. This is a narrative literature review. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The publication date is within 5 years (2020-2025). It is shown that the volume of the hippocampus may be reduced due to bullying. This condition affects learning, memory, and mental regulation. Hyperactivation of the amygdala might be found after bullying, resulting in stress and anxiety. The altered function of the anterior cingulate cortex and the prefrontal cortex may be involved after bullying. Emotional processing and behaviour could occur. Therefore, patients with bipolar disorder are prone to deterioration of mental health after bullying due to changes in some brain structures and functions. It is essential to implement early and effective interventions to prevent bullying and reduce its negative impact on mental health. In conclusion, bullying might affect mental health in bipolar patients by hyperactivation of the amygdala, the altered function of the cingulate cortex and the prefrontal cortex, also reduce the volume of the hippocampus.
Keywords: bipolar, brain, bullying, mental health
References
Acosta, J. R., Librenza-Garcia, D., Watts, D., Francisco, A. P., Zórtea, F., Raffa, B., Kohmann, A., Mugnol, F. E., Motta, G. L., Tramontina, S., & Passos, I. C. (2020). Bullying and psychotic symptoms in youth with bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 265, 603–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.101
Aghababaei, N., Lefdahl-Davis, E. M., & Błachnio, A. (2022). Editorial: Positive and Negative Psychosocial Outcomes of the “Dark” Personality Traits. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 919304. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.919304
Agnew-Blais, J., & Danese, A. (2016). Childhood maltreatment and unfavourable clinical outcomes in bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(4), 342–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00544-1
Albikawi, Z. F. (2023). Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Internet Addiction and Predictors of Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization among Female Nursing University Students: A Cross Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4293. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054293
Arnon, S., Brunstein Klomek, A., Visoki, E., Moore, T. M., Argabright, S. T., DiDomenico, G. E., Benton, T. D., & Barzilay, R. (2022). Association of Cyberbullying Experiences and Perpetration With Suicidality in Early Adolescence. JAMA Network Open, 5(6), e2218746. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18746
Betts, L. R., Spenser, K. A., & Baguley, T. (2022). Describing Disclosure of Cybervictimization in Adolescents from the United Kingdom: The Role of Age, Gender, Involvement in Cyberbullying, and Time Spent Online. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 183(1), 40–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221325.2021.2001413
Cosma, A., Bjereld, Y., Elgar, F. J., Richardson, C., Bilz, L., Craig, W., Augustine, L., Molcho, M., Malinowska-Cieślik, M., & Walsh, S. D. (2022). Gender Differences in Bullying Reflect Societal Gender Inequality: A Multilevel Study With Adolescents in 46 Countries. Journal of Adolescent Health, 71(5), 601–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.05.015
Erskine, H. E., Maravilla, J. C., Fine, S. L., Ramaiya, A., Li, M., Wahdi, A. E., Wado, Y. D., Loi, V. M., Whiteford, H. A., Lawrence, D., Thomas, H. J., & Scott, J. G. (2025). Bullying victimisation and perpetration and the association with mental disorders among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Findings from the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 19(S1), 87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00922-4
Geoffroy, M.-C., Arseneault, L., Girard, A., Ouellet-Morin, I., & Power, C. (2023). Association of childhood bullying victimisation with suicide deaths: Findings from a 50-year nationwide cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 53(9), 4152–4159. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291722000836
Giannakopoulos, G., Zaravinos-Tsakos, F., Mastrogiannakou, M., Sourander, A., & Kolaitis, G. (2025). Changes in Bullying Experiences and Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(4), 497. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040497
Hidayati, H., Martina, & Marthoenis. (2025). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Verbal Bullying among Adolescents in Indonesia. J Liaquat Uni Med Health Sci (SPECIAL ISSUE 7TH Aceh Int. Nurs. Conf.), 173–177.
Hu, Y., Bai, Y., Pan, Y., & Li, S. (2021). Cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents: A meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 305, 114198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114198
Iman, N., Kurnianto, R., & Ariyanto, A. (2025). Strengthening Educational Quality through Participatory Quality Management Assistance at MTs Al-Islam Poncol, Magetan. Mangabdi: Journal of Community Engagement in Religion, Social, and Humanities, 2(1), 54–66. https://doi.org/10.31958/mangabdi.v2i1.15471
Johansson, S., & Englund, G. (2021). Cyberbullying and its relationship with physical, verbal, and relational bullying: A structural equation modelling approach. Educational Psychology, 41(3), 320–337. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2020.1769033
Liu, W., Zhang, Y., Chen, J., Li, X., Huang, Y., Zhao, F., Chen, F., Qu, P., & Li, Y. (2025). Global burden and trends of major mental disorders in individuals under 24 years of age from 1990 to 2021, with projections to 2050: Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1635801. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1635801
Maharani, T., Adiputra, N. W. K., Oktavia, V. C., Khoiriyah, S. A., & Rohmah, N. (2023). Hubungan Physical Bullying dan Verbal Bullying Pada Remaja di SMK 4 Pancasila Ambulu Jember. Health & Medical Sciences, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.47134/phms.v1i1.29
Manoli, A., Wright, L. C., Shakoor, S., Fisher, H. L., & Hosang, G. M. (2023). The association between childhood bullying victimisation and childhood maltreatment with the clinical expression of bipolar disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 158, 226–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.12.039
Nagata, J. M., Zamora, G., Wong, J. H., Al‐Shoaibi, A. A. A., Ganson, K. T., Testa, A., He, J., Lavender, J. M., & Baker, F. C. (2025). Cyberbullying Victimisation Was Associated With Greater Manic Symptoms in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Cohort Study. Acta Paediatrica, 114(8), 1904–1909. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70051
Nesin, S. M., Sharma, K., Burghate, K. N., & Anthony, M. (2025). Neurobiology of emotional regulation in cyberbullying victims. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1473807. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1473807
Osman, A., Bagge, C. L., Gutierrez, P. M., Konick, L. C., Kopper, B. A., & Barrios, F. X. (2001). The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R):Validation with Clinical and Nonclinical Samples. Assessment, 8(4), 443–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/107319110100800409
Özer, G., Işık, İ., & Escartín, J. (2024). Is There Somebody Looking out for Me? A Qualitative Analysis of Bullying Experiences of Individuals Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020137
Park, Y.-M., Shekhtman, T., & Kelsoe, J. R. (2020). Effect of the Type and Number of Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Timing of Adverse Experiences on Clinical Outcomes in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder. Brain Sciences, 10(5), 254. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10050254
Simon, J., Pari, A. A. A., Wolstenholme, J., Berger, M., Goodwin, G. M., & Geddes, J. R. (2021). The costs of bipolar disorder in the United Kingdom. Brain and Behavior, 11(10), e2351. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2351
Thomson, H. (2024). Bullying affects the brain for years. New Scientist, 264(3514), 10. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0262-4079(24)01872-4
Zhao, N., Yang, S., Zhang, Q., Wang, J., Xie, W., Tan, Y., & Zhou, T. (2024). School bullying results in poor psychological conditions: Evidence from a survey of 95,545 subjects. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1279872. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1279872
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 yuliana yuliana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
