The association between peer-victimisation and structural and functional brain outcomes: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Child Development

Background:

• Peer adversity and aggression are prevalent in youth, linked to adverse mental health outcomes.
• No prior reviews have synthesized neurobiological changes associated with relational peer victimization, bullying, and cyberbullying.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review structural and functional brain changes linked to peer victimization, bullying, and cyberbullying.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PsychInfo, PubMed, and Scopus (2000-2021).
• Inclusion of 26 studies meeting predefined criteria.
• Independent review by two researchers.

Main Results:

• Victimization is associated with altered brain activation in reward, social pain, and affect processing regions.
• Heightened sensitivity and widespread activation in amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, and fusiform gyrus observed during social exclusion.
• Victimized youth show increased risk-taking behaviors and altered activation in prefrontal cortex regions, indicating enhanced social monitoring and cognitive control.

Conclusions:

• Need for more neuroimaging and longitudinal studies on cyberbullying and diverse populations.
• Addressing bullying victimization in adolescence is crucial due to its impact on sensitive developmental processes linked to depression, anxiety, and externalizing symptoms.