How Childhood Bullying Affects Adulthood

Unfortunately, bullying is a reality many children and adolescents face. While bullying can be devastating at the time, new research has examined the lifelong impact of being bullied as a child or teen. Bullying can include name calling, excluding others from social groups, stealing others’ possessions, and threatening physical harm.

In a study of 7000 teens, approximately half were victims of bullying. Not surprisingly, being bullied impacted their mental health – 40% of the victims of teenage bullying were found to have mental health issues by their mid-20s. These issues included anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. A history of being bullied was also associated with an increased chance of unemployment and slightly lower income for those who were employed. While being bullied does not guarantee teens will have later struggles, there does appear to be a relationship between the two.

The researchers offered suggestions to help combat bullying and its effects. They recommended a system-wide approach, in which the school culture considers bullying unacceptable and emphasizes student safety. They also suggested parents and teachers help to develop children’s and teens’ positive qualities, such as resilience and confidence, which may help to minimize the impact of being bullied. Additionally, the researchers recommended having an open dialogue about bullying and keeping aware of children’s and students’ social conflicts. Setting a positive example for children and teens by not engaging in bullying behaviors or expressing these attitudes was also recommended.

By Dr. Stephanie M. Fox|2019-06-04T18:45:26+00:00June 3rd, 2019|

About the Author: Dr. Stephanie M. Fox

Dr. Fox’s professional training took her throughout the Four Corners area, which inspired her practice name. In 2009, she earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Mexico, graduating summa cum laude. She earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University, Denver in 2012, and her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology in 2016. Throughout her training, Dr. Fox has had an extensive assessment background, including conducting diagnostic, forensic, and educational/achievement evaluations with adolescents and adults. She completed a predoctoral internship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, and completed her postdoctoral work in private practice in personality and psychoeducational evaluations. Collectively, Dr. Fox has completed hundreds of evaluations covering a diverse range of issues. Dr. Fox is licensed as a Psychologist in the state of Colorado (#4709), and is also nationally certified as a Health Service Psychologist by the National Register (#55849). She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Colorado Psychological Association, and Colorado Assessment Society.