Bullying Can Lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Bullying does not have to result in suicide for it to have serious, long-term effects. A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Psychology discovered that nearly 33 percent of all bullying victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. What’s more is they also found that 40-60 percent of all adults who were bullied as a child are afflicted with PTSD as well.
PTSD is a serious bodily reaction commonly associated with tragedy and disaster, and can inhibit an otherwise normal, healthy life. "Pupils who are constantly plagued by thoughts about or images of painful experiences, and who use much energy to suppress them, will clearly have less capacity to concentrate on schoolwork," said researcher Ella Cosmovici Idsoe. "Nor is this usually easy to observe. They often suffer in silence."
Researchers found that out of the 963 14- and 15-year-old students they examined, more girls (40.5 percent) than boys (27.6 percent) showed signs of PTSD. However, boys were more likely to report bullying incidents than girls.
Researchers add that schools should take the issue of bullying more seriously, because it can cause serious psychological issues that may last well into a child’s adult years.