Definition of Bullying

Bullying is a persistent and intentional abuse of power in interpersonal interactions that

involves repetitive verbal, physical, and/or social behavior with the goal of inflicting bodily,
social, or psychological harm. It can entail a person or group abusing their actual or perceived
authority over one or more people who are powerless to stop it. Bullying can occur in person or
online and on a variety of digital platforms and devices. It can also be overtly bullying or go
unnoticed (covert). Bullying behavior is repeated over time or has the ability to do so (for
example, through sharing of digital records).

What is Childhood Bullying?

Bullying during childhood is prevalent and can have major negative effects on both the
victim's and the bully's physical and mental health. Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender,
having a disability or a medical condition, or being an outcast in terms of weight and height are
all risk factors for becoming a victim. 20% of young people, according to estimates, have
experienced bullying on school grounds, and 16% have experienced it online in the past year.
Bullying can lead to psychological suffering, substance misuse, social isolation, low self-esteem,
depression, anxiety, and school avoidance or refusal. Prevention strategies include assisting
patients in finding interesting pursuits, exhibiting kindness and respect, and assisting clients in
finding supportive relationships. Family doctors play a crucial role in identifying bullying's
negative impacts, and a thorough, multifaceted strategy combining families, schools, and
community services can help stop bullying.

Effects of Childhood Bullying in Mental Health

Childhood bullying is a significant public health issue that raises the risk of ill health, as
well as adverse social and academic outcomes in childhood and adolescence. All parties
involved in bullying—bullies, victims, and bully-victims—experience these negative effects,
which are now known to last far into adulthood.

In addition to the conventional kinds of direct physical, direct verbal, and indirect
bullying, cyberbullying is a more recent phenomenon. Physical appearance is the most common
cause of youth bullying, and children who are viewed as being "different" in any way are more
likely to be victimized. Three main categories can be used to group the effects of childhood
bullying: educational repercussions during childhood, health problems during childhood, and all
other consequences throughout maturity. There are numerous dose-response correlations
between the frequency and severity of bullying experienced and the seriousness of reported
negative health effects. The majority of cyberbullying victims also experience traditional
bullying, thus there aren't many new victims added as a result of cyberbullying. The most
severe effects on bully-victims are generally the negative mental health outcomes brought on
by childhood bullying.

Bullying during childhood can have a serious and permanent impact on mental health.
These are a few possible outcomes:

➔ Depression: Kids who are bullied may exhibit depressive symptoms such melancholy,
hopelessness, and low self-esteem.
➔ Anxiety: Feelings of anxiety, such as worry, uneasiness, and fear, which may last into
adulthood, can result from bullying.
➔ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Children who have been the victims of
severe or ongoing bullying may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which
can cause intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors.
➔ Drug abuse: Bullying victims who need to relieve their emotional suffering may turn to
drugs or alcohol.
➔ Eating disorders: As youngsters struggle to recover control of their life as a result of
bullying, eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia can emerge.
➔ Self-harm: Some bullied kids can burn themselves or cut themselves as a coping
mechanism for their emotions.
➔ Suicide: In the most extreme circumstances, bullying may result in suicide attempts or
suicidal thoughts.

Although not every child who is bullied will experience mental health issues, the risk is
increased for those who are bullied frequently or for an extended period of time. Bullying must
be addressed immediately if you want to stop these damaging consequences on your mental
health.

How can we as adults deal with how bullying affects our mental health?

It is crucial to comprehend coping mechanisms for the trauma that bullying during
childhood might bring about. This will help with both emotional healing and mental health
improvement. Bullying is an aggressive behavior among students that is still prevalent in
schools today. Bullies may also have experienced being bullied.

Here are 4 crucial actions to do to go toward overcoming negative feelings brought on

by bullying in childhood:
 ➔ Find a support system: To relieve stress, rely on your loved ones for support, share your
thoughts and experiences with them, and ask them to assist you with household chores
or other obligations.
➔ Process your emotions, even if they’re negative: In order to recover from a traumatic
incident, you must face your feelings and refrain from avoidance. Avoiding things too
much might make stress last longer and make it harder to recuperate, so ease back into
your regular routine.
➔ Self-care is of utmost importance: Make taking care of yourself a top priority by eating
well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Investigate other constructive coping
mechanisms including art, music, meditation, rest, and time spent in nature.
➔ Be patient: It takes patience. Do not forget that it is normal to respond strongly to a
stressful incident. Take each day as it comes as you recover. You should observe a
steady improvement in your symptoms over the course of the next few days.

References

Armitage R. Bullying in children: impact on child health. BMJ Paediatrics Open 2021;
5:e000939.doi:10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000939.

Bains, G. (2021, August 7). Do we carry the trauma of childhood bullying into our adulthood? A
clinical psychologist reveals. Health Shots. https://www.healthshots.com/mind/mental-
health/can-vitamin-deficiencies-cause-mental-health-problems-lets-find-out/

"National Center Against Bullying". (2023). Definition of bullying. National Center Against
Bullying.https://www.ncab.org.au/bullying-advice/bullying-for-parents/definition-of-
bullying/

Stephens MM, Cook-Fasano HT, Sibbaluca K. (2018, Feb 1) Childhood Bullying: Implications for
Physicians. Am Fam Physician. 97(3):187-192. PMID: 29431974.