The following information is not meant as a substitute for qualified professional advice. 

Bullying

Bullying is an aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of power or strength. Bullying is repeated over time and can take many forms, such as hitting, punching, or shoving (physical bullying); teasing, taunting, name-calling, or sexual remarks (verbal bullying); intimidation using gestures, spreading rumors, or social exclusion (psychological or social bullying).

Nearly 1 in 5 students (20%) report bullying during the school year. It can occur anywhere at home, school, church, the park, malls, playgrounds, work, etc. These areas usually include places where supervision is minimal or hidden areas where the chance of getting caught is slight (i.e., locker rooms or restrooms).

If your child is being bullied, download the PDF below to see what you should do.

Types of Bullying

Verbal Bullying: Saying or writing mean things (i.e., Name-calling, teasing/taunting, threatening, insults, inappropriate remarks, comments, etc.)
Psychological (or social) Bullying: Hurting someone’s reputation or relationships (i.e., Spreading rumors, isolation, telling others not to be friends with them, embarrassing someone publicly, exclusion, etc.)

Physical Bullying: Hurting a person’s body or possessions (i.e., hitting, slapping, elbowing, shoving, spitting, kicking, breaking, or taking someone’s belongings, etc.)

Signs of Bullying

Bullied children and youth are likelier to exhibit several symptoms than their peers.

Physical Symptoms: 

  • Unexplained bruises, scratches, and cuts

  • Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares

  • Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick, or faking illness

  • Changes in eating habits, like skipping meals or binge eating

  • Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry

  • Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms: 

  • Loss of interest in school and extracurricular activities

  • Feelings of helplessness, anxiety, or decreased self-esteem

  • Seems sad, moody, or depressed

  • Self-destructive behaviors (ex., cutting)

  • Suicidal thoughts or ideas

  • Social Symptoms:

  • Frequent complaints of illness to avoid attending school

  • A sudden decrease in academic performance (declining grades or loss of interest)

  • Fear of going to school, riding the bus, walking to school, or taking part in organized activities with other peers

  • Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of a social situation

Causes of Bullying

Anyone can engage in bullying behaviors for a variety of reasons. Bullying behavior can arise from distrust, fear, and misunderstanding. A person is more likely to engage in such destructive behaviors for any of the following:

  • Dislike for another person

  • Seeking revenge on another person or retaliation

  • Seeking popularity

  • Seeking power and control

  • Prejudice

  • Peer pressure

  • Pleasure or “for fun.”

Effects of Bullying

Bullying, especially among youth, can result in lasting, life-changing effects, often controlling that individual’s daily life. The effects of bullying can include, but are not limited to, the following:

Psychological and Mental Health Effects:

  • A significant drop in self-esteem, often lasting into adulthood

  • Likeliness to struggle with negative emotions every day, affecting their outlook on others and themselves

  • Higher rates of depression and anxiety

  • Increased sadness and loneliness

  • Ongoing stress

Physical Effects:

  • Physical ailments caused by psychological distress, such as chronic headaches or stomach aches

  • Sleep difficulties

Social Effects:

  • Limitations in their ability to form friendships or other relationships

  • Lack of trust and wariness of other people

  • Lower levels of confidence

Academic Effects:

  • Fear or avoidance of school in general

  • Decrease in academic performance

  • Increase in stress which interferes with memory, retaining information, learning ability, or trouble focusing

  • Alteration of a person’s academic views (i.e., no longer desires to pursue higher education or wants to drop out)

Almost all forms of bullying peak in middle school, specifically 6th-grade students reported the highest percentage of bullying (29%)

(NCES, 2019)

Immediate Crisis Hotlines

If you or someone you know is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8, a free 24-hour hotline. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 or visit your nearest emergency room. Below is an additional list of crisis resources.