School children who bully or are victims of bullying may face risks of anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders later in life.
School children who bully or are victims of bullying may face risks of anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders later in life.
With boys, bullying is often overt and physical, while for girls, it is more likely to come in the subtle form of teasing, gossip and exclusion.
Researchers studied 5,038 children in Finland who were followed from the age of 8 years until 24 years of age to find out the association between bullying and victimisation in childhood, long-term mental health outcomes and need for psychiatric treatment later in life. All the participants answered a questionnaire about bullying and victimisation at 8 years of age. These included parents, teachers and self-reports.
It was found that boys and girls who were frequently bullied were at higher risk than their peers of need for psychiatric treatment in their teens or early 20s. The same was true of boys who were perpetrators of the bullying - with the highest risks of mental health problems seen among boys who were both perpetrators and victims.
At the outset, 6 percent of boys and 4 percent of girls were being frequently bullied. Of boys, 6 percent routinely bullied other kids, while almost 3 percent were both bullies and victims. Among girls, less than one percent were either bullies or bully-victims.
Overall, one-third boys who had been both bullies and victims ended up taking psychiatric medication at some point between the ages of 13 and 24, while 17 percent were admitted to a psychiatric hospital. That compared with rates of 12 percent and 5 percent, respectively, among boys who had not been involved in bullying.
Among girls, 32 percent of those who had been frequently bullied were eventually prescribed psychiatric medication, compared with 16 percent of girls who had not been bullied. Meanwhile, 12 percent of victims were hospitalised for psychiatric treatment, versus 4 percent of other girls.
When the researchers considered the children's emotional health and behaviour, only boys who were already showing problems were at increased risk of later psychiatric conditions. But with girls, those who were bullied were at heightened risk of later problems even if they initially showed no emotional or behavioural difficulties.
The findings add to the evidence that school bullying can have substantial psychological consequences and that, at least among boys, those who are both bullies and victims are the most troubled of all.
The researchers suggested that parents and teachers should be aware that frequent school bullying should not be considered as normal behaviour as it has potentially serious consequences.
With boys, bullying is often overt and physical, while for girls, it is more likely to come in the subtle form of teasing, gossip and exclusion.
Researchers studied 5,038 children in Finland who were followed from the age of 8 years until 24 years of age to find out the association between bullying and victimisation in childhood, long-term mental health outcomes and need for psychiatric treatment later in life. All the participants answered a questionnaire about bullying and victimisation at 8 years of age. These included parents, teachers and self-reports.
It was found that boys and girls who were frequently bullied were at higher risk than their peers of need for psychiatric treatment in their teens or early 20s. The same was true of boys who were perpetrators of the bullying - with the highest risks of mental health problems seen among boys who were both perpetrators and victims.
At the outset, 6 percent of boys and 4 percent of girls were being frequently bullied. Of boys, 6 percent routinely bullied other kids, while almost 3 percent were both bullies and victims. Among girls, less than one percent were either bullies or bully-victims.
Overall, one-third boys who had been both bullies and victims ended up taking psychiatric medication at some point between the ages of 13 and 24, while 17 percent were admitted to a psychiatric hospital. That compared with rates of 12 percent and 5 percent, respectively, among boys who had not been involved in bullying.
Among girls, 32 percent of those who had been frequently bullied were eventually prescribed psychiatric medication, compared with 16 percent of girls who had not been bullied. Meanwhile, 12 percent of victims were hospitalised for psychiatric treatment, versus 4 percent of other girls.
When the researchers considered the children's emotional health and behaviour, only boys who were already showing problems were at increased risk of later psychiatric conditions. But with girls, those who were bullied were at heightened risk of later problems even if they initially showed no emotional or behavioural difficulties.
The findings add to the evidence that school bullying can have substantial psychological consequences and that, at least among boys, those who are both bullies and victims are the most troubled of all.
The researchers suggested that parents and teachers should be aware that frequent school bullying should not be considered as normal behaviour as it has potentially serious consequences.
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