Effects of Bullying may Impact a Child's Health Later in Life

Bullying during youth can be a traumatic experience for any child, no matter the length of time that the problem occurs. Yet a recent study by researchers from Boston Children's Hospital shows that issue itself could carry lasting effects on a child's health that may potentially transition into adulthood.

"Our research shows that long-term bullying has a severe impact on a child's overall health, and that its negative effects can accumulate and get worse with time," said the study's first author Laura Bogart, PhD, from Boston Children's Division of General Pediatrics, via a press release. "It reinforces the notion that more bullying intervention is needed, because the sooner we stop a child from being bullied, the less likely bullying is to have a lasting, damaging effect on his or her health down the road."

For the study, researchers collected data by following a group of 4,297 children and adolescents from fifth to tenth grade. They then periodically interviewed them regarding their mental and physical health, as well as any encounters with bullying.

Findings showed that bullying at any age was often associated with worse mental and physical health as well as increased depressive symptoms and lower self-worth. For those who had experienced chronic bullying, some even reported difficulties in physical activities such as running, walking or participating in sports in general. Those who had been bullied in the past yet were still experiencing bullying in the present also showed the lowest health scores, according to background information from the study.

The study authors point out how this research reinforces the importance of prevention efforts to stop bullying and intervene against the issue before problems occur. Furthermore, Bogart and colleagues hope to develop a clinical test for both bullying prevention and intervention methods.

"There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to addressing bullying," Bogart said, via the release. "But providing teachers, parents and clinicians with best-practices that are evidence-based could better assist those at the frontlines helping children cope with this serious problem and lessen the damage it causes."

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More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Pediatrics.