Bullying Damage Kids

Bullying Damage Kids

Bullying Proven to Literally Damage Kids for Life

Bullying. Again and again it shows up in schools, on the playground, and with the increasing prevalence of social networking and instant messaging, some kids are even being targeted where they should feel safe – at home.

After a rash of assaults, suicides, and even murders – all directly linked to bullying – the world is no longer standing by. “Sticks and stones” is being replaced by assertive action. Parents, teachers, friends and family have joined together and are not standing for it anymore.

Research councils around the globe have banded together to study how to tackle bullying, and more importantly, how to make it stop.

While no definitive solution has been found so far, important discoveries are constantly being unturned, the most recent of which is quite significant.

According to a Finnish study published in the journal of Pediatrics, boys who bully or are victims of bullies show a higher risk of mental health disorders as young men.

2,540 boys were surveyed at the age of 8 regarding their experiences with bullying – both as the target or the bully – and then mentally diagnosed again between the ages of 18 to 23 (during compulsory military service).

It was discovered that boys who were habitual bullies were far more likely to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (which typically involves tendencies to disregard the law and the rights of others, as well as being violent and aggressive), while frequent victims of bullying had higher risks of anxiety disorder. Those who experienced both sides (victim and perpetrator) were the worst off, with elevated risks of both disorders.

Essentially, the message to take away is that any sign of bullying should be a “red flag”. Without preventative intervention, young males can literally be emotionally damaged for life. The medical researchers suggest the boys be evaluated by a mental health professional – specifically those in the bully/victim combo, in which nearly all had some kind of mental disorder already by the age of 8.

So, hopefully “boys will be boys” will take a backseat to smart, involved parents and teachers co-operating together to help their kids from becoming another mental health statistic. Because every child deserves a peaceful life.