DEPRESSION IN SCHOOL-AGED ADOLESCENTS EXPOSED TO BULLYING: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the association between depression and bullying in the high school environment, as well as to examine the role of the school environment as a possible factor of protection or aggravation of adolescents' mental health. A systematic review was carried out in databases such as PubMed, BVS, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library, using search terms in English, with the help of Boolean operators, from January 2021 to September 2025. The study was guided by the PICO strategy, according to statements PRISMA and with registration PROSPERO (CRD420251170974). Three observational studies (China, Norway and Brazil) were included, with samples between 852 and 979,043 adolescents, using a theoretical approach based on psychosocial and epidemiological references about mental suffering and school violence. The results showed a consistent association between bullying and depressive symptoms, highlighting that victims have greater mental distress and worse quality of life, while aggressors tend to lower levels of depression. Therefore, it is concluded that bullying is a relevant determinant of youth mental health, reinforcing the need for school policies to prevent and promote emotional well-being.