The Mental Health Impact of Bullying on Kids and Teens

Unfortunately, Bullying Is Common

The National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published recent statistics, including:

• One out of every five students between the ages of 12 and 18 has experienced bullying at some point
• Students who reported being bullied stated it had an impact on how other students treated them
• Many children are bullied by peers who are larger or stronger than they are
• Some children are bullied because they have less money than their peers
• Fewer than half of all students who experienced bullying in school report it to authorities

Cyberbullying: The Darker Side of Technology

Cyberbullying refers to any bullying that takes place in the digital world. Students as young as elementary school ages understand how to use cell phones, tablets, and computers.

Although the internet can benefit a child’s academic growth and development, it also makes them more vulnerable to cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is a significant concern. It can have a major impact on a young person’s mental health. Adolescents who are the victims of cyberbullying are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and academic difficulties.

According to one study published by JAMA, young people exposed to cyberbullying are at a 50% increased risk of suicidal thoughts than their peers. Another recent study showed that children and young adults who experience cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to harm themselves and display suicidal behavior.

One study published by the Joint Research Center found that more than half of all children surveyed had experienced cyberbullying in some way. A survey published by Google indicated that teachers believe cyberbullying is their top safety concern in the classroom.

Mocking someone online, posting embarrassing photos, and harassing someone on social media can be forms of cyberbullying. Setting up fake social media accounts to spy on someone and/or to make fun of them is another form of this type of bullying.

Unfortunately, because children can talk to each other whenever they want online, it can be nearly impossible for a child to escape their bully.

There are a number of common types of cyberbullying.

Comments and Rumors

One of the most common forms of cyberbullying is spreading mean comments and rumors across social media sites. Popular social media platforms include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Snapchat.

2018 research from the Pew Research Center shows that 32% of teens have experienced spreading of false rumors online.

Embarrassing Pictures

Another type of cyberbullying is spreading embarrassing pictures of someone. This can include “revenge porn,” which refers to posting nude pictures of someone on social media platforms without their permission.

Impersonation

A bully may try to steal someone’s password to social media accounts. Then, they may post negative things on that person’s account, posing as the individual. They may also create a fake account using someone’s photos and content and harass others or pretend to be the person.

Digital Threats

A bully may use the internet to share digital threats about someone. For example, they may post a video targeting someone with malicious intent.

The Mental Health Impact of Bullying

Students who are bullied by other students at school are more likely to develop depression. The most common signs of depression include sleep problems, appetite changes, emotional disturbances, and even thoughts of suicide. Children who experience depression may lose enjoyment in activities that once brought them happiness.

Bullying can make students more likely to develop anxiety. Anxiety may develop because students fear bullying at every turn. Anxiety makes it harder for people to form relationships with friends, peers, and teachers.

Bullying can make it harder for kids to succeed in the classroom. This can make it hard for them to keep up with their academic studies. If students are bullied regularly, they may not want to go to school or participate in school-related activities, like sports or field trips.

Children who are bullied may see themselves as being less worthy than others. They may feel like other people are better than they are. They may believe they do not deserve to enjoy the same happiness and success as other children.

This can be devastating to academic and social development, and can have varying results.

Loss of Self-Confidence

One of the first effects children and teens feel if they are bullied is a loss of confidence. For example, kids often feel like they are not as good at a particular sport as the person bullying them. They may feel like they do not even deserve to try out for a certain activity. This loss of self-confidence can affect other areas of life.

Increased Self-Criticism

Kids who are bullied are often harsh on themselves. They may have heard negative statements from the bully so often that they start to believe the statements are true. They may start to feel bad about something that cannot possibly change, such as their hair color, skin color, or height.

They may also feel shame or embarrassment about events or behaviors that a bully further shames them about.

Increased Self-Isolation

Kids who are bullied often feel so bad about themselves that they try to isolate themselves from their peers, family members, and friends. They may spend a lot of time closed off in their rooms when they are not at school. They may not want to go to school at all.

It is worth noting that bullying can impact not only the victim but also the perpetrator.

Children who bully others are at a greater risk of getting into physical fights, verbal altercations, and are less likely to take responsibility for their actions. Research also shows that children who bully others are at risk of developing antisocial behaviors. These include significant academic problems, substance use disorders, and aggressive behaviors.