Bullying in Adolescent

This essay discusses the effects of bullying on the psychological development of adolescents. It explores the short-term and long-term impacts of bullying, including anxiety, depression, and increased risk of substance abuse. The role of health professionals in promoting well-being and minimizing harm is also highlighted.

Running Head: Bullying in Adolescent
Bullying in Adolescent
Essay
System04104
4/19/2019

Bullying in Adolescent
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Introduction
Bullying is a common experience for many adolescents and children in school and
college life. Many surveys conducted on bullying and it has been found that half of all the
children are bullied in school life and at least 10% are bulled on a regular basis. Adolescents
that are between 11-20 years, face bullying somewhere in school or at home by teachers or
parents, or even some time friends. Although, in modern says online bullying is also affecting
the physical and mental health of children and adolescent (Antoniadou, Kokkinos & Markos,
2016).
The present work based on the bullying effect on adolescents and shows how bullying
affect the mental and physical health of adolescents. Often people see themselves as
powerless against bullying. The study shows that the role of health professionals and parents
are so important to take necessary action against bullying and create a safe environment for
their children. The aim of present work is to show the bullying affects on psychological
development of adolescents. The present wok also helps to understand that how bullying
affects the future psychological development of adolescents. This study helps those parents
and adolescents who bullied in their life and faces mental and psychological distress because
of it.
Description of Experience
Bullying in school days is common. Every people faces bullying in school days where
teacher bullying students for their work and for their behaviour. Actually, bullying of
physical punishment in schools is common. It has been seen that the teacher repeatedly used
words or take some actions to harm the student's wellbeing and bullying them. One thing is
considerable that bullying is deliberate behaviour of teacher that is hurtful for students
(Menesini & Salmivalli, 2017). Bullying is done on purpose to make a person feel powerless,
threatened, or intimidated and is often ongoing. Every adolescent faces bullying in school
days from teachers and even sometimes parents do it, which affect the psychological
development of young children and teenagers. Apart from this, bullying can have a wide
range of adverse impact on an adolescent such as angry, distress, depression, and suicide as
well. Bullying can also develop various social disorder even it can create a higher chance of
engaging in criminal activities in adolescent between 11-20 year of age (Espelage, Valido,

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Hatchel, Ingram, Huang, & Torgal, 2018). Bullying can be in the form of both verbal and
physical bullying. Verbal bullying includes spoken comments or written information that
emotionally damage the student. Physically bullying in schools consists of physically
harming a student or their possessions. In schools, physical and mental torcher by a teacher is
a great example of physical bullying where teacher hitting a student or calling him with rude
names or using foul language for adolescent. These are types of direct bullying in the schools
while indirect bullying is mainly verbal and it is so common in schools and even colleges as
well. There are many causes of bullying in schools especially in adolescents (11-20 years).
Some of them are poor performance in school, poor academic performance, self-destructive
behaviour of adolescents, unexplained injuries, faulty behaviour of students; teacher creates
fear in students, and decrease in participation of schoolwork or low attendance etc. (Lomas,
Stough, Hansen, & Downey, 2012). However, bullying is dangerous for the victim but it has
been seen that adolescents who bully others and also bullied by others are at greater risk for
negative physical and psychological health consequences, compared to those who are only
bully or are only being bullied.
Impacts of experience on psychological development in that
particular period of lifespan (Short-term effect)
Bullying in adolescents normally seen in the schools and it has been found that
bullying has a negative effect on the psychological and physical development of children. An
adolescent can grow very quickly between 11-20 years and it has been seen that in this period
a bullied student struggles in academically because of mental stress and fear of bullying
(Pengpid & Peltzer, 2013). It has been seen that adolescent missed the schools due to
suspension increases this risk. Apart from this, it has been seen that the low attendance of
adolescent in school also happens because they fear from bullying in the schools from peer
students or from teachers (Kloosterman, Kelley, Craig, Parker, & Javier, 2013). The
adolescent people hide from social interaction and they are not maintaining social
relationships. Even they fear to make new friends or do not want to meet new people. They
avoid the gathering of people and want to live alone. The risk of substance abuse is also
increasing because of bullying fear in the mind of adolescent people. The adolescent people
feel shy with new people and not immediately interact with any new people. The adolescent
victim of bullying feeling shame and he/she normally not want to initiate in anything. Apart
from this, if ad adolescent people bullied in school, then he faces a high risk of depression

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symptoms. Apart from this, there are many other negative effects of bullying in the
psychological development of an adolescent such as symptoms of anxiety, fear, angry,
bedwetting, higher risk of illness, shyness, and increased risk of substance abuse (Kub &
Feldman, 2015).
Impacts of experience on future psychological development (Long-
term effect)
Adolescents who were the victim of bullying have been found consistently to be at
higher risk of internalising problems. These types of people cannot express their problems to
others and faces anxiety disorders and depression in adulthood (20-50 year of age).
Furthermore, victims of bullying were at increasing risk for displaying suicidal ideas,
attempts, or even they committed suicides because they cannot be able to face the mental
stress or life stress (Budden, Birks, Cant, Bagley, & Park, 2017). The various research
conducted on bullying found that there is a connection between bullying and suicide.
However, it is not necessary that all adolescents who bullied in schools or in their life have a
tendency to think about suicide or having suicidal behaviour (Vrijhof, van den Bulk,
Overgaauw, Lelieveld, Engels, & van Ijzendoorn, 2016). Those adolescent who bullied are at
risk of suicide in their adulthood, but bullying is not the single cause behind this rather many
other issues contribute to suicide risks that are directly linked with bullying such as
depression, the problem at home, and trauma history of the adolescent as well. It has been
also found by many researchers that bullied in adolescent age causes risk of taking alcohol,
drugs, and smoking in adulthood age. Even it has been seen that adolescent adopted smoking
and alcohol consumption in their early stage of life because of depression and mental stress.
These factors directly block the psychological development of bullied victim in adulthood
(Horner, Asher, & Fireman, 2015).
Role of health professionals in promoting well-being or minimise the
harm
Health and safety professionals (such as nurses) are already in schools and they have
an important role in reducing the harm of bullying effect. These health professionals have
already so many experiences they understood the consequences of bullying very well.
Because nurses can regularly examine the mental and physical health of children and assess

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risk factor, they have a better idea about detecting the possible symptoms and its relation with
bullying. These health professional should aware of the society (especially parents of
adolescents) for early detection and effective intervention (Rettew & Pawlowski, 2016).
These health professionals can early detect the symptoms of bullying by asking screening
questions and during wellness examination of patients (bullied victim).
The nurses can advocate for effective bullying prevention and response programs in
the society and local schools. These health professional can provide regular training and
continuing education on bullying and its possible psychological impact on the mental and
physical health of adolescents (Wilson, Bovet, Viswanathan, & Suris, 2012). They should
also promote anti-bullying policies and practices within schools, professional organisations,
and community groups to dispel misconception in bullying prevention strategies. For
example, clear and strict rules and policies should provide to schools, families, and teachers
about appropriate behaviour with adolescents. Apart from this, the health professionals
should conduct educational program and seminars in schools to engage adolescents in a
discussion about the possible solutions to bullying, including youth-led dialogue and support
groups (Swearer & Hymel, 2015).
Conclusion
Bullying in adolescent age has a serious effect on health in both short-term and long-
term. Bullying causes serious threats in the psychological development of adolescents and it
is resulting in substantial costs for both victim and for their families. Bullying is school days
is common for almost all adolescents and it causes many psychological problems like stress,
anger, fear, and depression in youngsters. As per study, it has been found that bullying has
some long-term serious psychological effects that force adolescents to think about suicide
ideas or suicide attempts when adolescent fails to face life stress or depression. As per the
study, it is also found that suicide ideas are very common in adulthood in those people who
bullied at an early age of life. The role of health professionals is very important in stopping
the bullying in the local schools and community because if they educate people about the
possible symptoms of bullying, the negative effect of bullying on psychological development
can easily be prevented. A strict policy and regulation will also help to stop bullying
adolescents by teachers in schools.

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References
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Budden, L. M., Birks, M., Cant, R., Bagley, T., & Park, T. (2017). Australian nursing
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Espelage, D. L., Valido, A., Hatchel, T., Ingram, K. M., Huang, Y., & Torgal, C. (2018). A
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Swearer, S. M., & Hymel, S. (2015). Understanding the psychology of bullying: Moving
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