
Study Shows Teen Bullying Leads to Mental Health Problems
Bullying is not a new topic for teenagers. It could be tripping someone in the hallway at school. It could be whispers at the back of the bus. It could be missing lunch money. It could be the ping of a comment notification on social media. There is no shortage of ways that teens can experience bullying during their day. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, over 1 in 4 students in grades 6-12 have been bullied. Despite efforts to minimize teen bullying, it continues to happen–but what are the future consequences? New studies are confirming that experiencing teen bullying can follow a child into adulthood. The scars of the past might not heal and could cause serious issues, like anxiety and depression, in the future.Understanding Bullying in Teens
Bullying is described as aggressive and unwanted behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. This behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In past decades, bullying may have been isolated to school hours. But in today’s digital age, bullying can occur anywhere. Teenagers are now constantly connected to each other. This can have the positive effect of creating community or the negative effect of being unable to disengage from bullying behaviors. Cyberbullying can take place over digital devices like your teen’s phone or gaming device. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying can even cross the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.Warning Signs of Bullying
It is important for parents to be aware of their teens’ personal interactions in person and online. Teens who are experiencing bullying behaviors from their peers may not feel comfortable reaching out for help. They may feel embarrassed or ashamed. They may internalize the bullying behavior and begin to believe that they are deserving of the abuse. This is why being aware of shifts in your teen’s habits or emotions is crucial. Teens who are experiment bullying may exhibit behaviors such as:- Unexplainable injuries
- Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
- Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick, or faking illness
- Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Teens may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
- Drastic sleep changes such as difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares or excessive sleeping.
- Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
- Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
- Isolation. This may be self-imposed where your teen begins to show less interest in activities they previously enjoyed or it may be that former friends are no longer inviting them to hang out.
- Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem
- Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide
Bullying and Mental Health
Although bullying is a common experience for many teens, that does not make it any less detrimental. Teens who are bullied can experience negative physical, social, emotional, academic, and mental health issues. Teens who are bullied are more likely to experience:- Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood.
- Decreased self-esteem.
- Decreased academic achievement, GPA and standardized test scores, and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.
- Intense feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.