Emotional Impact of Bullying on Students and How to Help Them
For decades, bullying among children has been a major concern of parents and teachers in schools. For victims of all ages, it can become a tough phase of their life if not controlled. Due to the many serious emotional and mental health concerns which form the overall emotional impact of bullying on students, psychologists, schools, and child welfare bodies from across the world consider it a serious matter, which, if not tackled, can lead to long-term and possibly irreparable mental health challenges.
What are the Signs Seen in Kids Who Face Bullying?
It is important for parents to know how can parents prepare their child for school properly, which includes explaining to them the importance of reporting bullying incidents to an adult. Without this explanation, your student may be facing bullying without reporting the incidents to anyone. However, you can see the signs of whether they are facing bullying or not by subtle emotional and behavioural changes that cannot be hidden. Besides the marks of physical bullying seen on their body, below are some of the signs of mental effects seen among kids.
Fear of Going to School or Meeting Others
According to recent data, approximately 25% of students or adolescents worldwide are victims of bullying. Among them all, an estimated total of 5.4 million students avoid going to school or meeting new people due to the fear of bullying, making it one of the most visible indicators of bullying. Students may show this fear through:
- Frequent complaints of headaches on school days
- Sudden requests to stay home or change schools
- Avoiding school-related conversations or activities
Having Few Friends
The impact of bullying on children shows in the form of social isolation of young children as they either distance themselves from other children or vice versa, resulting in them having barely any friends. This accounts for them suffering from emotional distress later on. Some common observations of this include:
- Difficulty forming or maintaining friendships
- Spending breaks or free time alone
- Low or negligible participation in group activities inside and outside school
Nervousness
Millions of students suffer from bullying, not just in the physical world but also cyberbullying on social media, seen among almost 25% of the present-day teens. Taking both forms into account, bullying leads to chronic stress in the form of nervousness. A few signs of this nervousness are:
- Nail-biting or restlessness in behaviour
- Excessive worry about small mistakes
- Being easily startled or unusually quiet
Negative Change in Behaviour
The majority of the parents consider negative changes in behaviour among their children as signs of defiance or lack of discipline. Rather, they may be emotional coping mechanisms that can only be tackled with care and not scolding or punishment. These changes that may appear as effects of bullying on students mental health may include:
- Cases of irritation or aggression
- Withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
What is the Emotional Impact of Bullying on Students?
As per what is typically assumed by parents, the emotional impact of bullying on students includes sadness or fear. However, this assumption is partially true, as the impact goes much deeper than that due to repeated exposure to bullying without a solution. Bullying can be of several types, like verbal, social, physical, cyber, prejudicial, or sexual. Below are the most widely documented emotional consequences of them all.
Depression and Anxiety
As per studies from the WHO and child health organizations, depression and anxiety are the most strongly linked emotional outcomes of bullying. According to studies, bullied students are 2.21 times more likely to develop depression and 1.77 times more likely to suffer from anxiety. By the age of 18, the risk of clinical depression is nearly tripled for those students who were frequently bullied at age 13. These problems only increase with the frequency and severity of incidents, as students experience:
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness
- Excessive worrying or panicking
- Difficulty concentrating on anything or relaxing
Low Self-Confidence
Among the impacts of bullying on children, the incidents target the self-esteem of children in the form of repeated and harsh criticism, ridicule, or exclusion. Over time, these external messages can become internal beliefs. This may lead to:
- Negative self-talk and self-blame
- Avoidance of challenges or new opportunities
- Too much dependence on external validation
Voluntary Loneliness
Too much bullying shows an effect in the form of voluntary loneliness, where a student may seem antisocial with their peers or adults, even at social settings, as a mental choice to protect themselves emotionally. Such a step they take can be more harmful than beneficial, as it can intensify emotional distress in their future and that too at an alarming rate, as per what mental health experts say. This behaviour may include:
- Choosing solitude even when opportunities for interaction exist
- Reduced communication with family members
- Preference for excessive screen time or isolation
Loss of Interest in Studies
An often overlooked effect of bullying on students is the downgrade in their academic performance, a concerning factor when they are at an age of learning new things theoretically and practically at school. The loss of interest in studies for them is a result of the effect of bullying on their memory, focus, and attention. When school becomes emotionally unsafe, learning takes a back seat. This downgrade in results may be seen in the form of:
- Decline in grades
- Reduced classroom participation
- Avoiding assignments, presentations, or group activities
Anger and Stress
The highest cases of bullying are seen among middle school students, where, according to reports, over 40% of students are victims of bullying across the globe. Among such students, many cases see them not keeping the emotional distress hidden in their heads but showing it physically in the form of anger, irritability, or violence, seen in the form of:
- Sudden outbursts at home or school\
- Increased conflicts with peers or siblings
- Physical complaints linked to stress
What is the Relation Between Bullying and Mental Health in Students?
The relation between bullying and mental health in students is a deeply concerning one if not understood. It is explained by the Stress-Diathesis Model, which explains how repeated incidents of bullying can trigger mental health difficulties. Due to the seriousness of their interconnection, expert psychologists across the world, as well as bodies like UNICEF, address bullying as a social and mental health issue.
Observations backed by psychological research on bullied students show that:
- Bullying increases the risk of anxiety disorders, symptoms of depression, and emotional disturbance
- Students with pre-existing mental health challenges may be more vulnerable to bullying
- Emotional harm can stay affecting the minds of children even after bullying stops
How to Help Students Who Face Bullying – What the Experts Say
Even if your child is studying at the best school in Mira Road, they are prone to face bullying, but will get emotional support from the faculty, too. Besides the majority of the cases occurring at schools, these incidents may take place at their home, coaching classes, or their neighbourhood too. As per expert psychologists, the harmful effects of bullying on students mental health in all such cases can be tackled and repaired by the coordinated efforts from parents, teachers, and psychologists. Below are some strategies that experts recommend following for your child:
- Create safe communication channels: Have regular and casual conversations with your child and encourage them to participate in fun activities
- Strengthen emotional coping skills: Teach your child basic emotional literacy and expression, and make them participate in stress-management or problem-solving activities.
- Seek professional support: Get in touch with child psychologists.
Conclusion
More concerning and less visible than physical marks, bullying leaves emotional marks that are difficult to heal when not seen with seriousness at an early stage. These marks, seen as the emotional impact of bullying on students, only disappear when parents, schools, and mental health professionals work together to build a better present and future for children.
We at St. Wilfred’s School, Mira Road, not only provide excellence to children in their academics but also work to make sure no student faces bullying of any sort. Enroll your child at St. Wilfred’s School, Mira Road, and witness them walk steadily on the path to success.
FAQs
Q. What are the emotional effects of bullying?
The emotional effects of bullying on students include anger, nervousness, isolation, loss of interest in studies or other activities, depression, and anxiety.
Q. What are the common signs that a student is being bullied?
The common signs that a student is being bullied include physical marks in the form of redness on body parts or bruises, irritation, nervousness, low confidence, and fear of socializing.
Q. How do students usually cope with being bullied?
To cope with being bullied, the majority of the students release their frustration and thoughts in the form of talking with their friends or family or indulging in fun activities like playing outdoor games.