Examination of the Adverse Impact of Bullying on Children

Ryan Epperson

College of Psychology, Grand Canyon University

UNV-104 051: 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy

Professor Ciftcikara

11/10/2023

Main topic: Examination of the Adverse Impact of Bullying on Children

Subtopics:

a. Emotional and Psychological Consequences

Bullying children may lead to poor psychological Health, including anxiety, depression, and the development of low self-esteem, whether they are victims or bullies. Furthermore, it can cause physical illness with obvious evidence of physical malfunction, as seen in medically diagnosed illnesses. This category includes psychosomatic symptoms. This subtopic will address the specific emotional and psychological issues that bullied children encounter.

b. Academic Performance and Self-esteem

Another psychological condition is poor social adjustment, including aversion to one’s social environment, manifested by voiced hate for school or workplace, manifest loneliness, isolation, and absenteeism. This subtopic will point out the link between bullying and academic struggles. It will also highlight the impact of bullying on a child’s self-esteem. The discussion will thoroughly explore the subtopic, providing examples and evidence to support the claims made.

c. Long-term Effects on Mental Health

This subtopic looks into the effects of bullying that can extend beyond childhood and have lasting implications on a person’s mental health. Long term effects of bullying include trauma manifesting in adulthood, leading to issues like chronic anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or even a perpetuation of the cycle of bullying.

Thesis statement: Bullying affects a childs emotional and psychological state, leading to poor academic performance, low self-esteem, and long-term impacts on mental health.

Introduction

Title: Examination of the Adverse Impact of Bullying on Children

Bullying is a pressing global concern affecting children worldwide, leaving a profound and lasting impact on their lives. It implies a power imbalance in which the victim is weaker than the perpetrator (Rigby, 2003. Those who bully others are affected just like their victims. They are likely to experience negative emotional, behavioral, and mental health outcomes (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). The victims can experience subsequent mental, emotional, and behavioral problems. (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016).

The thesis statement: Bullying affects a child emotional and psychological state, leading to poor academic performance, low self-esteem, and long-term impacts on mental health.

Research Questions/Hypotheses

Title: Key Research Questions and Hypotheses

Research Questions

· How does bullying impact the emotional and psychological well-being of children?

· What is the relationship between bullying and academic performance and self-esteem in children?

· What are the long-term consequences of bullying on the mental health of individuals who have experienced it in their childhood?

Hypotheses

HP3: Victims of bullying during childhood are more likely to exhibit long-term mental health issues, such as chronic anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

HP1: Bullying affects children emotionally and psychologically, leading to increased instances of anxiety, depression, and the development of low self-esteem.

HP2: Bullying negatively correlates with academic performance in children, and it is linked to a decline in self-esteem.

Literature Review/Theory

Children who are victims of bullying are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety(Swearer et al., 2013).

Children subjected to severe and prolonged bullying may develop symptoms of PTSD (Idsoe et al., 2012).

DeLara, (2016) posits that negative comments and actions of bullies can make victims doubt their own value and self-image, which can persist into adulthood.

Children who are bullied may find it difficult to concentrate in school due to the emotional distress they experience (Al-Raqqad et al., 2017).

According to Al-Raqqad et al., (2017), bullying often leads to school avoidance as victims try to escape the hostile environment

Negative comments and actions from bullies can lead to a negative self-perception (Younan, 2019).

The emotional trauma inflicted by bullying can have long term effects leading Increased Risk of Mental Health Disorders (deLara, 2019)

According to deLara, (2019) Bullying experiences can affect a person’s ability to trust and form healthy relationships in adulthood.

Substance Abuse and Self-Harm (Myklestad & Straiton, 2021).

Methods & Data Collection

Title: “Research Methods and Data Collection”

The study will utilize a mixed research approach, involving quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Quantitative research methods will involve distributing questionnaires to victims, parents of victims, psychiatrists and school administration.

Qualitative research method will involve reviewing existing literature.

A comprehensive and ethical approach to data collection is of paramount importance in the research to ensure:

· Data Quality and Accuracy

· Long-Term Sustainability.

· Research Integrity

Hypothetical Data Presentation/Findings

Title: Hypothetical Data Presentation

· Will be done using charts, graphs, or statistics to illustrate the emotional and psychological effects, academic performance, self-esteem issues, and long-term mental health consequences.

· Both the qualitative and quantitative data will be integrated in the interpretation to show the extent of the impact.

Future Research

Title: Future Directions for Research

Bullying in children is an ongoing and a dynamic topic as it has implications for the well-being of children as well as into their adolescents and adulthood.

Future research can further understand bullying and its impact, as well as inform the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Research can be expanded to include assessing the impact of school-based anti-bullying initiatives, peer mentoring programs, and support services for victims.

Further Investigation should be conducted on the role of individual and environmental factors in promoting resilience among victims of bullying.

Conclusion

Title: “Concluding Remarks”

Bullying has adverse impact on children with far-reaching consequences.

Bullying inflicts emotional and psychological scars as well undermines academic performance, self-esteem, and long-term mental health.

There is need for continuous research to address the problem of bullying and to inform the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Every stakeholder must play a part to foster a safe and nurturing environment for children, ensuring their growth and development free from the harmful effects of bullying.

Continuous study and the urge to combat this issue can ensure a future where every child can live free from the shadow of bullying.

References

Al-Raqqad, H. K., Al-Bourini, E. S., Al Talahin, F. M., & Aranki, R. M. E. (2017). The Impact of School Bullying on Students’ Academic Achievement from Teachers Point of View. 
International Education Studies, 
10(6), 44-50.

DeLara, E. (2016). 
Bullying scars: The impact on adult life and relationships. Oxford University Press.

deLara, E. W. (2019). Consequences of childhood bullying on mental health and relationships for young adults. 
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 
28, 2379-2389.

Idsoe, T., Dyregrov, A., & Idsoe, E. C. (2012). Bullying and PTSD symptoms. 
Journal of abnormal child psychology, 
40, 901-911.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Preventing bullying through science, policy, and practice.

Rigby, K. (2003). Consequences of bullying in schools.
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry,
48(9), 583–590. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370304800904

Swearer, S. M., Song, S. Y., Gary, P. T., Eagle, J. W., & Mickelson, W. T. (2013). Psychosocial correlates in bullying and victimization: The relationship between depression, anxiety, and bully/victim status. In 
Bullying Behavior (pp. 95-121). Routledge.

Younan, B. (2019). How does guilt, influence and attitudes effect the role we play in bullying? The self-perception measure. 
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 
12(4), 489-499.