Bullying Prevention Awareness 23 Consequences of bullying There are several consequences of bullying - and the specific consequences that arise depend on the nature of the bullying itself, and a number of personal/situational factors. Mental health effects Among the consequences of bullying are mental and emotional health impacts. When individuals experience bullying - whether over a long or short period of time - they tend to experience mental health consequences and these consequences often aren’t temporary. Research continually shows that continuous bullying leads the victim to experience depression, anxiety, and other adverse mental health effects. One study in Norway investigated long-term psychological effects of bullying on adolescents. The researchers found that all students who experienced bullying faced negative mental health outcomes through adulthood. It’s important to note that the bullies also experienced adverse mental health outcomes.The study determined that both the victims and the bullies faced increased risk for hospitalization due to mental health disorders. Physical impacts If someone experiences bullying that includes physical violence/aggression, they may suffer injuries or various types of physical trauma, such as bruises or body pains. While the above may be temporary, victims can also experience more longterm physical consequences of bullying. For instance, persistent bullying can lead to sleep disorders, chronic stomach aches, headaches, dizziness, and heart palpitations. In addition, experiencing bullying can increase cortisol levels, which is something that often happens in conjunction with - or following - stressful events.This increased stress can then worsen the immune system and other hormone levels. Academic consequences A victim may often feel distraught, anxious, worried, frustrated, and/or distracted throughout the school day - so it’s unsurprising that this can lead to decreased academic performance. In fact, research shows that frequent bullying is associated with lower grade averages and test scores, and is correlated with higher dropout rates and decreased academic performance. INVESTIGATING BULLYING AT SCHOOL cont’d
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