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Understanding how kids go through with bullying each other
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Psychological, Physical and Social Effects of Bullying on Teenagers
Due to widespread bullying, teenagers are experiencing physical, social and psychological crisis as an effect of teenage depression. Furthermore, teenagers who are in a constant state of social and psychological crisis can eventually suffer from chronic depression, which is categorized by medical professionals as a mental health disorder. Bullying is defined as the act of consistently demonstrating unwanted and negatively dominant behaviors towards a weaker -or perceived to be weaker- individual. Usually, bullies are assisted by others either through direct participation by egging on the perpetrators, or indirectly via failure to intervene. Very few teenagers are motivated and courageous enough to defend their peers who are being bullied. Interestingly, many studies demonstrate that many teenagers who bully, do so to act out personal frustrations and negative behaviors in a social environment. Many educators and healthcare workers are cognizant of the impact bullying has on teenagers. In addition to psychological deterioration and depression, bullied teenage victims easily fall prey to negative long-term consequences which includes but is not limited to social and physical harm.
Although bullying has existed in the American society almost since inception, the advent of technology and the sophistication of well- developed and easily accessible social media sites has promoted a new aspect of bullying that has heightened to dangerous levels and remains a challenge to contain. Due to the inability to control teenage bullying, the incidence of bullied teenagers experiencing depression is increasing at alarming rates. Literature regarding online bullying, known as cyberbullying, has demonstrated increased negative impact on teenage victims’ psychological, social, and physical outcomes. (Schnieder, O’ Donnell, Stueve & Coutler
For example, students earning Ds and Fs were twice as likely to be victims of cyberbullying compared to students who earned higher grades. The authors also stated that bullied teenagers experience increased loneliness and withdrawal from social interactions. Prolonged withdrawal and failure to develop and sustain meaningful relationships more often than not, leads to depression and ultimately suicide ideation.
Second, some teenagers seen to be more at risk of being targeted by bullies. According to Cowie and Colliety (2016), quality of friendships is a particularly important factor in preventing teenage bullying. Peers and friends who do not possess high levels of protective qualities can worsen an already vulnerable teenager’s likelihood of being targeted by bullies. Moreover, teenagers with passive personalities and who lack resilience and or struggle with establishing meaningful relationships are more likely to become victims. Bullied teenagers have also been found to have much lower self-esteem. Extensive research studies confirmed that bullying is incredibly damaging and often transitions to increased self-inflicted physical harm, depression and higher rates of suicides the longer a teenager experiences bullying of any kind. Swearer (2008), states that victims of bullying are particularly at-risk for experiencing depression. She further shares that adults should be aware of the link between bullying and depressive symptoms.
References: Cowie, H. Colliety, P. (2016) Who cares about the bullies?, Pastoral Care in Education, 34:1, 24-33, DOI: 10.1080/02643944.2015. Schneider, S.K., O’Donnell, L., Stueve, A., & Coulter, R.W.S. (2010) Cyberbullying, school bullying and psychological distress: A regional census of high school students, Journal of School Violence 102 (1) 171-173. Swearer, Susan, M. (2008) Bullying and Depression. Educational Psychology Papers and Publications, 134. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/edpsychpapers/