10 Strange Effects of Bullying on Child Development

Bullying in childhood isn’t just a playground problem; it’s a serious global issue that affects the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and even extends its reach into adulthood. The World Health Organization has classified it as a major public health problem, and the impact goes far beyond the schoolyard.

Imagine a child, maybe like yourself or someone you know, facing repeated teasing, name-calling, or even physical harm from someone more powerful—a bully. These power-imbalanced relationships can take various forms, from verbal and social abuse to outright physical aggression. The effects are profound, with bullies amassing power while victims lose theirs, becoming more defenseless and prone to psychological distress.

Now, let’s talk about my friend, Alex. Alex was a bright, cheerful kid, but things changed when a bully targeted them in school. The teasing started innocently, but soon it escalated. Alex felt the weight of every insult, every cruel word. It wasn’t just about school anymore; the impact seeped into their life outside the classroom. This isn’t just a story about Alex; it’s a story about countless kids worldwide who face similar struggles.

Only in recent years have we begun to understand the long-lasting consequences of childhood bullying. Studies show that the scars from those early years stretch into adulthood, contributing to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and even thoughts of self-harm. This is a global problem, affecting one in three children globally. As if the traditional forms of bullying weren’t enough, the digital age has brought forth a new challenge: cyberbullying.

Educational Impact

Loss of Belonging: Bullying doesn’t just hurt physically; it makes you feel like you don’t belong. Imagine going to school every day, and instead of feeling welcome, you feel left out and alone.

Socialization Barriers: Indirect bullying, like spreading rumors, can make it hard to make friends. When others hear false stories about you, they might avoid being friends with you. It’s like trying to play a game, but no one wants you on their team.

Increased School Avoidance: Being bullied can make school scary. It might make you want to skip school because you’re afraid of what might happen. Skipping school means missing out on learning and having fun with friends.

Few studies have explored school refusal in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), despite being considered a serious problem. One of the leading causes of school refusal is bullying, which is defined by the feelings of students who are bullied or not, and psychological suffering caused by a psychological or physical attack. ¹

Mental Health Consequences

Depression and Anxiety: Being bullied can make you really sad and worried all the time. It’s like carrying a heavy backpack filled with negative thoughts, and it can be hard to shake them off.

Low Self-Esteem: Bullying makes you believe bad things about yourself. It’s like having a mean voice in your head that keeps saying you’re not good enough, even though you are.

We recruited 600 adolescent. The mean age of our population was 13.76 ±1.37 and the sex ratio was 1. More than 95% of adolescent who reported that they had been victims of bullying had a very low self-esteem comparing to those who stated that they had never been bullied (4.4%). Our results have also shown that bullies had a lower self-esteem than children who had not bullied others.²

Increased Risk of Self-Harm: Sometimes, bullying makes the pain feel too much, and kids might hurt themselves or think about ending their pain. It’s crucial to get help from caring adults when this happens.

Physical Health Consequences

Chronic Stress: Imagine always feeling tense and worried. Bullying can create a constant state of stress that affects your body, leading to headaches, stomachaches, and trouble sleeping.

The association between bullying and post-traumatic stress symptoms is considered a form of trauma (62). Several health professionals insist that children and adolescents who are exposed to extreme stress are more likely to develop serious mental health issues; therefore, bullying is very often a continuous trauma rather than an acute stressful experience.³

Appetite and Sleep Issues: Bullying can mess with your eating and sleeping habits. It’s like trying to run a race with a stomachache or being too tired to play your favorite game.

Psychosomatic Symptoms: When your emotions get all mixed up, your body might feel weird too. You might feel tired all the time or lose your appetite because bullying takes a toll on both your mind and body.

Social Development

Relationship Difficulties: Bullying can make it hard to make friends. When others see you being bullied, they might not want to be your friend, making it challenging to build good relationships.

Social Skills Deficits: Dealing with bullies can make it tough to talk to others or trust them. It’s like having a wall around you that stops you from getting close to people.

Increased Loneliness: Being bullied can make you feel all alone, like you’re on an island. This loneliness can make it harder to enjoy time with friends or feel connected to others.

School Performance

Decreased Academic Performance: Bullying can make it tough to focus on schoolwork. Imagine trying to solve math problems while someone is teasing you—it’s hard to concentrate!

Concentration Difficulties: Bullies create a stressful environment that makes it tough to pay attention in class. It’s like trying to read a book while someone is yelling in your ear.

Increased Absenteeism: Being bullied can make you want to stay home. The fear, anxiety, and sadness might make you skip school, missing out on learning and hanging out with friends.

Long-Term Psychological Impact

Increased Risk of Psychopathology: The effects of bullying can stick around. If you’re bullied a lot, you might be more likely to face mental health challenges when you grow up.

Adulthood Suicidality and Criminality: Being bullied or being a bully can affect you even when you’re an adult. It might make you feel really sad or make choices that get you into trouble.

Depression and Quality of Life: The hurt from bullying doesn’t just disappear. It can make you feel down even when you’re older, affecting your happiness and how you see the world.

Decreased Self-Confidence

Bullying doesn’t just stop at school; it can make you doubt yourself for a long time. It’s like having a bully inside your head, making you think you can’t do anything right.

This lack of confidence can stick around even when you’re grown up, affecting your job, relationships, and making it harder to believe in yourself.

Increased Vulnerability

Bullying can make you feel small and powerless. It’s like having a sign on your back that says, “I’m an easy target.” This vulnerability might make it harder to stand up for yourself in the future.

Negative Perception of School

Being bullied can ruin school for you. It’s like having a bad experience with your favorite game, making you not want to play anymore. This negative association with school can impact your learning and future opportunities.

Increased Risk of Substance Abuse

Bullying hurts a lot, and sometimes kids might try to escape the pain by turning to alcohol or drugs. It’s like using these substances to cover up the emotional pain caused by bullying.

This risky coping mechanism can lead to substance abuse issues when you’re older, creating more challenges to overcome.

The research highlights a consistent association between bullying behaviors and substance use among adolescents, drawing on various studies conducted over the years⁴. Several substances, including tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis, are linked to different roles in bullying dynamics. For instance, a strong connection is found between tobacco use and individuals categorized as bullies, bully-victims, or victims. Similarly, alcohol use is notably associated with students exhibiting aggressive behaviors, such as bullies and bully-victims, with being a victim identified as a significant risk factor for alcohol consumption. Cannabis use, on the other hand, is strongly linked to being a bully or a bully-victim.

Longitudinal studies provide additional insight, demonstrating that self-reported bullying at an early age, such as Grade 5 (around 11 years old), predicts violent behavior and problematic alcohol and drug consumption six years later⁵. This suggests a lasting impact of bullying on substance use behaviors. However, the research notes a gap in information regarding the associations between bullying and substance use when an individual acts as a bystander in the bullying experience, indicating a need for further exploration in this aspect.

1. https://capmh.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13034-020-00325-7 ↩︎
2. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.576 ↩︎
3. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00075/ ↩︎
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5487445/ ↩︎
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5487445/ ↩︎

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to handle child bullying:

• Q: What immediate steps can I take if my child is being bullied?
  • A: First, ensure your child feels heard and supported. Communicate with them openly, contact the school, and collaborate with teachers and administrators to address the issue promptly. Encourage your child to build a support network of friends and consider involving mental health professionals if needed.

2. How to prevent child bullying:

• Q: What proactive measures can be taken to prevent bullying?
  • A: Foster open communication with your child, teach empathy and kindness, and promote a positive and inclusive environment at home. Educate your child about the impact of bullying, encourage assertiveness, and involve schools and community programs in anti-bullying initiatives.

3. How to deal with a bullying child:

• Q: What steps should I take if my child is displaying bullying behavior?
  • A: Address the behavior promptly by talking to your child about empathy and its importance. Set clear expectations and consequences for bullying behavior, involve the school, and consider seeking guidance from a mental health professional to understand and address underlying issues.

4. How to discipline a bullying child:

• Q: What are effective disciplinary approaches for a child engaging in bullying?
  • A: Consistent consequences are crucial. Develop clear rules against bullying, enforce appropriate consequences such as loss of privileges, and emphasize the importance of making amends. Seek professional guidance to address any underlying emotional or behavioral issues.

5. How bullying can affect a child:

• Q: What are the potential effects of bullying on a child’s development?
  • A: Bullying can have severe emotional, psychological, and academic consequences. It may lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and academic decline. Long-term effects can persist into adulthood, impacting mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.

6. What does bullying do to a kid:

• Q: How does bullying impact a child’s mental health?
  • A: Bullying can result in profound psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and, in extreme cases, suicidal ideation. It can negatively shape a child’s self-perception, affecting their confidence and overall mental well-being.

7. Why is my child bullied:

• Q: Why might my child be a target for bullying?
  • A: There are various reasons, such as differences in appearance, behavior, or interests. Understanding the specific reasons may involve open communication with your child, school involvement, and addressing any potential factors that may contribute to their vulnerability.

8. What happens when a child is bullied:

• Q: What are the potential consequences for a child who is being bullied?
  • A: Being bullied can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including emotional distress, social isolation, academic struggles, and long-term psychological effects. It’s crucial to intervene early to mitigate these consequences and provide appropriate support.