Bullying does not leave lasting mental scars
- Being bullied at 11 may cause children to experience depression and anxiety
- Yet, these conditions do not persist by the time the victim reaches the age of 16
- Children are more resilient than people think and most bounce back from bullies
- Yet, paranoid thoughts due to bullying can continue into a victim’s late teens
- Experts add longer studies are needed to assess bullying’s true long-term effects
Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline
27
View
comments
Bullying does not leave lasting mental scars, new research suggests.
While being bullied at 11 may cause children to experience depression, anxiety and hyperactivity, these conditions do not persist at age 16, a study found.
Children are more resilient than parents and teachers think, with most bouncing back from peer mistreatment, according to researchers.
Dr Judy Silberg from the Virginia Commonwealth University, who was not involved in the study, said: ‘Most children will get better.’
Yet, the research also revealed paranoid thoughts as a result of bullying can continue into a victim’s later teens.
Bullying does not leave lasting mental scars, new research suggests (stock)
-
New map reveals Britain’s dementia hotspots where people are…
Marathon star Paula Radcliffe ¿ who suffered pneumonia after…
Being lonely is ‘as bad for your health as chronic illness’:…
Trainee doctors to be offered £20,000 ‘golden hello’ in…
PARENTS WORRY MORE ABOUT THEIR CHILD BEING BULLIED THAN THEM GETTING PREGNANT
Parents worry more about their child being bullied than them getting pregnant, research revealed last month.
Some 61 percent worry about their children being picked on, a study found.
Unhealthy lifestyle habits, drug abuse and internet safety also weigh on the minds of many mothers and fathers, the research adds.
Pregnancy also features in the top 10 list of worries.
Cyberbulling has previously been linked to depression, anxiety, insomnia and an increased risk of suicide.
Study author Dr Gary Freed from the University of Michigan’s CS Mott Children’s Hospital, said: ‘Simple effective strategies may include not providing personal identifying information on social media, chat platforms, or in shared gaming environments.’
How the research was carried out
The researchers from University College London analysed 11,108 twins born in England and Wales between 1994 and 1996.
Twins were chosen to minimise the potential impact of genetics or home life impacting children’s response to bullying.
The study’s participants completed assessments on their experience of bullying when they were 11 and 14 years old.
At 11 and 16 years old, the participants’ mental health was evaluated. This included anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and impulsivity, inattention, conduct problems, and psychotic-like experiences, such as paranoid thoughts.
‘Most children will get better’
Results reveal while children who are bullied at 11 are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, inattention and hyperactivity, these conditions do not persist five years later.
Yet, for unclear reasons, paranoid thoughts often continue.
Dr Silberg said: ‘Most children will get better.’
The researchers add children are more resilient than parents and teachers think, with most bouncing back from peer mistreatment.
Other experts add, however, not all youngsters are unaffected by bullying in their later life.
Dr Bonnie Leadbeater from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, who was not involved in the study, said: ‘The effects of bullying at age 11 on anxiety and depression at age 16 is what diminishes.
‘You cannot interpret this as supporting a more general statement that the effects of bullying lessen over time.
‘Bullying may be episodic or chronic, and the limited assessment of bullying may severely underestimate the effects of chronic bullying on mental health and behavioral problems.’
The findings were published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
Share or comment on this article
-
Instagram starlet, 18, accidentally live streams herself… -
EXCLUSIVE: Trump’s Justice Department moves on Harvey… -
Cara Delevingne claims that Harvey Weinstein tried to… -
EXCLUSIVE – Harvey’s f**k you to the world: Defiant… -
‘Suicidal’ Harvey Weinstein begs a STRANGER for a ride… -
British ISIS recruiter Sally Jones is killed in Syria:… -
‘I sincerely apologize’: Weinstein protégé Ben Affleck… -
The disfigured slavegirl who was beaten to make her cry… -
PIERS MORGAN: Spare me Hollywood’s hypocritical horror… -
‘Get out, get out!’: Terrifying moment three angry… -
Junior doctor’s career is in ruins after he indecently… -
‘Very upset and crying’: Tourist tells of weeping… -
‘I’ve lost my job, I’m in debt, I may be going to prison…… -
Queen asks Prince Charles to step in and lay her wreath… -
‘Where’s my mummy’: Heartbroken husband of Coronation… -
EXCLUSIVE: ‘I can’t believe that b**** is getting a… -
‘It was all for the cameras!’ Host says video of Ben… -
Her Majesty’s historic but painful decision: ROBERT…
Comments 29
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.