EFFECTS OF BULLYING ON TEENAGE MENTAL HEALTH
WHAT IS BULLYING?
Bullying is characterized by repeated hurtful actions meant to cause pain or fear to others. Bullying can take many forms including physical violence, name calling, social exclusion, spreading rumors, and sending insulting or threatening online messages.
BULLYING IN COLLEGE:
It is a serious concern as teenage is a critical period of development and transition to adulthood. Being bullied during college years is a common, distressing and preventable experience and has been associated with mental illness, substance misuse, and suicide risk in adulthood.
Several studies have estimated that approximately 20–35% of adolescents have had at least one experience of bullying.
WHAT CAUSES BULLYING:
- Bullying happens mostly between peers where a power imbalance exists. Individuals may bully others to assert dominance and maintain their control.
- Some students bully others as a way to compensate for their own insecurities & low self-esteem.
- Lack of empathy in bullies due to lack of love, care & attention at home.
- Lack of effective policies & resources for reporting and addressing bullies.
By treating students unfairly on the basis of academic performance, teachers also contribute to the cycle of bullying & abuse.
EFFECTS OF BULLYING ON MENTAL HEALTH:
Bullying experiences in teenagers have long-term impact on health outcomes in adulthood.
1. LOW CONFIDENCE:
Experiences of bullying in teenagers are damaging to self-perception and self-esteem. Bullies often target features which cannot be changed like skin color, weight, hair color etc. These negative comments regarding appearance lead to diminished self-worth & confidence.
This toxicity has lasting impacts on many areas of life such as their relationships and careers.
2. POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:
Students begin to judge themselves harshly as a result of the constant negative comments they hear about them. Many bullied teens feel unsafe at school leading to abstinence and avoidance of social gatherings.
The heightened anxiety makes it difficult for students to form relationships. It also causes difficulty in concentration and engagement in academics, resulting in low grades and bad performance.
3. GENERALIZED ANXIETY:
Studies have suggested that victims of bullying not only have a high risk of developing depression & anxiety but are also likely to commit self-harm. Those who are bullied become hesitant to participate in events due to the fear of being judged by others. They become extremely concerned about how they look and behave. The survivors of bullying in teenage develop an overactive fight or flight response as they always anticipate the recurrence of bullying.
A WORD FROM MENTAL NURTURING:
Students who are bullied are more likely to experience anxiety & depression. They experience symptoms such as sleep disturbances, appetite changes, emotional weakness, and suicidal thoughts. This emotional turmoil can hinder academic success, as bullied students struggle to keep up with their work and may avoid school-related activities. Additionally, they may feel inferior to their peers, believing they are less valuable or deserving of happiness.
Development of some positive psychological traits in teenagers like “resilience” and “positive-thinking personality” may be protective during stressful circumstances. Resilience comes from the accumulation of positive interactions with family members, peers, neighbors, and the community, rather than being an inherent personality trait.
It is important to discourage bullying at all forums and monitor the academic and social development of teenagers.
Many times, the lasting signs of bullying & trauma require professional help from a mental health expert.
RESOURCES:
1. Lin LY, Chien YN, Chen YH, Wu CY, Chiou HY. Bullying Experiences, Depression, and the Moderating Role of Resilience Among Adolescents. Front Public Health. 2022 May 25;10:872100. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.872100. PMID: 35692326; PMCID: PMC9174695.
2. Hodgins M, Kane R, Itzkovich Y, Fahie D. Workplace Bullying and Harassment in Higher Education Institutions: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Sep 3;21(9):1173. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21091173. PMID: 39338057; PMCID: PMC11431250.
3. Momose Y, Ishida H. Bullying experiences in childhood and health outcomes in adulthood. PLoS One. 2024 Jul 15;19(7):e0305005. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305005. PMID: 39008467; PMCID: PMC11249246
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4. Shakoor S, M S Zavos H, Gregory AM, Ronald A. The association between bullying-victimisation and sleep disturbances in adolescence: Evidence from a twin study. J Sleep Res. 2021 Oct;30(5):e13321. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13321. Epub 2021 Mar 5. PMID: 33675116; PMCID: PMC11475508.
Written by:
Hooria Jannat Javed,
Medically reviewed by:
Dr.Saba Munir, MBBS
On November 12, 2024
