Dec 10, 2022 09:00:00

The negative physical and mental effects of childhood bullying continue into adulthood and have negative socioeconomic effects.

Louise Arseneault, a professor of developmental psychology at King's

College London , has summarized the results of various studies on the long-term effects of bullying during school years.

Annual Research Review: The persistent and pervasive impact of being bullied in childhood and adolescence: implications for policy and practice - Arseneault - 2018 - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry - Wiley Online Library
https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12841

◆What is the definition of bullying?
Arseneault defines bullying as 'repeated attacks between people of the same age group where the victim has difficulty defending themselves due to an imbalance of power.' According to this definition, attacks by parents or teachers are not bullying but abuse, and fighting between two people of equal strength is not bullying. When there is a power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim, such as in terms of numbers, strength, ability, intelligence, or social influence, the attack is more likely to be considered bullying.

Bullying is a very common phenomenon worldwide. A WHO survey of 40 countries (PDF file) found that approximately 13% of 11-year-olds reported being bullied, and a 2009 study of young people in 11 European countries found that 20% of children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 reported being bullied.

It is also known that bullying can continue for a long period of time, with research showing that children who were bullied in elementary school are more likely to be bullied again in junior high school , and that 43% of children who were bullied at age 11 were still victims of bullying three years later.

The negative psychological impact of bullying on children
Children who are bullied are more likely to have difficulty

adjusting to school , feel socially isolated , and are at higher risk of self-harming and suicidal thoughts . These research results show that bullying has a serious negative impact on childhood and adolescent mental health.

Additionally, several studies have shown that being bullied during childhood and adolescence is associated with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. These findings are robust, controlling for mental health problems that occurred before the bullying began, as well as potential confounding factors such as gender, parental socioeconomic status, and IQ.

Research into the causal relationship between bullying and mental health is limited by the need to rely on observational studies, as it is not possible to separate participants into 'bullied' and 'non-bullied' groups. Nevertheless, several studies using genetically identical twins have shown that children who are bullied are more likely to develop mental health problems later in life than those who are not.

On the other hand, biological and social factors also play a role in the negative effects of bullying. For example, children with mutations in the serotonin transporter, which is associated with mood regulation and depressive symptoms, are at lower risk of suffering from psychological problems due to bullying. Children raised in supportive families also have fewer emotional and behavioral problems after being bullied.

The long-term psychological impact of bullying
While there are few longitudinal studies that track bullying victims over time into adulthood,

findings from a Finnish cohort study showed that women who were bullied as children were more likely to commit suicide or attempt suicide by age 25. Additionally, men who were bullied as children were at higher risk of developing anxiety disorders between the ages of 18 and 23, and also had a higher risk of developing smoking habits .

Additionally, a 2013 study of people who had experienced bullying multiple times between the ages of 9 and 16 revealed that they were more likely to suffer from mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and panic disorder in their 20s, more than 10 years after the incident. Several other studies have also shown that childhood bullying can have long-term negative effects on the mind.

The negative physical and socioeconomic impacts of bullying
The long-term effects of bullying on victims extend beyond their mental health to their physical health: A 2015

study found that people who were bullied as children had higher levels of inflammation than those who were not, and that bullied women were more likely to be obese.

The impact of being a victim of bullying also extends to economic status, social relationships, and quality of life in adulthood. A 2008 study found that victims of bullying tend to have lower levels of education, which is a major problem given that educational attainment is closely linked to socioeconomic achievement in modern society. Other studies have also shown that victims of bullying, even after controlling for factors such as mental disorders and family environment, are more likely to have lower economic status in adulthood and fewer partners and friends by the age of 50.

Arseneault pointed out that these findings show that being bullied during childhood and adolescence not only causes temporary distress but also has long-term negative effects, and called for societal efforts to reduce bullying and support focused on victim recovery.