The Effects Of Bullying On Children
Bullying can affect a child or teen's mental health and welfare. It can be associated with low self-esteem, and can contribute to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. It can also lead to feelings of helplessness and being suicidal. Children and teens with intellectual or physical disabilities can also be more likely to experience anxiety, depression or other mental health i¬ssues. Around 10 percent of children and young adults in the United States are victims of frequent bullying by peers. As a result of being bullied, victims may develop a variety of psychological as well as somatic symptoms, some of which may continue into adulthood. Psychological symptoms might include social difficulties, internalizing symptoms, anxiety,
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depression, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders. In addition, with psychological symptoms, there are also somatic symptoms. Somatic is defined as “of or relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.” Somatic symptoms that may be medically unexplained are manifested by poor appetite, headaches, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
Affective disorders refer to mood and anxiety disorders. Depression, a mood disorder, is a common sign of bullying. It will represent as a disinterest in once enjoyed activities, a low mood, a change in self-esteem and a change in sleep patterns. Some may self-harm and experience ideas of suicide – this is dependent on the severity of the bullying. If untreated, the child is at high risk of developing chronic depression and/or bi-polar disorder. Anxiety disorders stem from fear and an inability to communicate distress. The frustration of this inability will create a sense of psychological discomfort and anxiety. The child will also develop a fear of the situation in which he/she will interact with the bully. “Anticipatory anxiety” and panic attacks may be experienced. If not treated social anxiety disorder may be a later diagnosis. A number of studies have acknowledged a link between exposure to bullying and increased risks for major depression. For example, a study published in 2007 by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry acknowledged frequent exposure to bullying as a significant risk factor for depression, as well as for suicidal thinking and active suicide attempts.
Self-harm behaviors may stem from a desire to relieve tension or communicate stress, and in the most extreme cases may represent a suicidal intent in the individual caused from bullying.
(““A common perception is that those who self-harm does this because they are depressed or mentally ill. We found that being bullied, in particular chronically in primary school, directly increases the risk of self-harm,” said study author Dieter Wolke, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Warwick in England.”) Being bullied does more than effect the self-esteem and self-worth, new research has shown that being bullied during childhood directly increases the likelihood of self-harm in late adolescence. (Nauert, Rick. "Being Bullied Increases Likelihood of Self-Harm." Psych Central News. N.p., 29 May 2003. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.) Researchers followed almost 5,000 participants in the “Children of the 90s” study, assessing participants for exposure to bullying between 7 and 10 years of age. Investigators then later asked whether they had engaged in self-harm at 16 to 17. Self-harm behaviors may stem from a desire to relieve tension or communicate stress, and in the most extreme cases may represent a suicidal intent in the individual. The study found that 16.5 percent of 16-17 year olds had self-harmed in the previous year, and 27 percent of these did so because they felt as though they “wanted to die.” Those who were subjected to chronic bullying over a number of years at primary school were nearly five times more likely to self-harm six to seven years later in adolescence. (Nauert, Rick. "Being Bullied Increases Likelihood of Self-Harm." Psych Central News. N.p., 29 May 2003. Web. 26 Feb.
2016.)
depression, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders. In addition, with psychological symptoms, there are also somatic symptoms. Somatic is defined as “of or relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.” Somatic symptoms that may be medically unexplained are manifested by poor appetite, headaches, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
Affective disorders refer to mood and anxiety disorders. Depression, a mood disorder, is a common sign of bullying. It will represent as a disinterest in once enjoyed activities, a low mood, a change in self-esteem and a change in sleep patterns. Some may self-harm and experience ideas of suicide – this is dependent on the severity of the bullying. If untreated, the child is at high risk of developing chronic depression and/or bi-polar disorder. Anxiety disorders stem from fear and an inability to communicate distress. The frustration of this inability will create a sense of psychological discomfort and anxiety. The child will also develop a fear of the situation in which he/she will interact with the bully. “Anticipatory anxiety” and panic attacks may be experienced. If not treated social anxiety disorder may be a later diagnosis. A number of studies have acknowledged a link between exposure to bullying and increased risks for major depression. For example, a study published in 2007 by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry acknowledged frequent exposure to bullying as a significant risk factor for depression, as well as for suicidal thinking and active suicide attempts.
Self-harm behaviors may stem from a desire to relieve tension or communicate stress, and in the most extreme cases may represent a suicidal intent in the individual caused from bullying.
(““A common perception is that those who self-harm does this because they are depressed or mentally ill. We found that being bullied, in particular chronically in primary school, directly increases the risk of self-harm,” said study author Dieter Wolke, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Warwick in England.”) Being bullied does more than effect the self-esteem and self-worth, new research has shown that being bullied during childhood directly increases the likelihood of self-harm in late adolescence. (Nauert, Rick. "Being Bullied Increases Likelihood of Self-Harm." Psych Central News. N.p., 29 May 2003. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.) Researchers followed almost 5,000 participants in the “Children of the 90s” study, assessing participants for exposure to bullying between 7 and 10 years of age. Investigators then later asked whether they had engaged in self-harm at 16 to 17. Self-harm behaviors may stem from a desire to relieve tension or communicate stress, and in the most extreme cases may represent a suicidal intent in the individual. The study found that 16.5 percent of 16-17 year olds had self-harmed in the previous year, and 27 percent of these did so because they felt as though they “wanted to die.” Those who were subjected to chronic bullying over a number of years at primary school were nearly five times more likely to self-harm six to seven years later in adolescence. (Nauert, Rick. "Being Bullied Increases Likelihood of Self-Harm." Psych Central News. N.p., 29 May 2003. Web. 26 Feb.
2016.)