How can bullying affect a child?

The National Education Association estimates that bullying causes 160,000 kids to stay home from school every day. The impact of trauma, abuse, neglect, and bullying on children can have a life-long impact on survivors. These events can impact the child's ability to regulate their emotions and negatively impact the ability to form secure, healthy attachments. In fact, children exposed to complex trauma are at higher risk for exposure to additional trauma and “cumulative impairment, including psychiatric and addictive disorders; chronic medical illness; legal, vocational, and family problems,” according to Complex Trauma in Children and Adolescents. The same source notes that various areas of impairment that a child might experience, including problems with attachment, dissociation, cognition, biology, affect regulation, behavioral control, and self-concept. Bullying has also been linked to higher rates of mental health problems, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia, as well as increased risk for self-harm, suicide attempts, and health problems. If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bullying can increase stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline, and lead to heart problems, digestive problems, and immune system problems.

Bullying can impact the child’s self-esteem and mental health and lead to increased isolation, trust issues in relationships, and insecure attachment styles. Children who experience bullying are also more likely to self-harm, suffer from suicidal thoughts, attempt suicide, and self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In addition, research has shown that students who experienced high levels of bullying had significantly lower grades than their peers who experienced less or no bullying.

Violence Prevention Works provides a working model for the dynamics of bullying and how bullying impacts onlookers and the school environment. Bullying creates an atmosphere of fear, hostility, and disrespect, makes it difficult to learn and feel secure, and creates the perception that teachers and staff don’t care.  Adults need to recognize the signs of bullying and be proactive in intervening or creating a safe environment. Contact your school, create a plan, or contact police if bullying includes physical harm, sexual violence or abuse, threats of violence, or sharing child pornography or sexually explicit images.