Bullying During Adolescence

This article will be looking at the effects of bullying during adolescence. Bullying has been identified as one of the major contributors of depression among adolescents. During a research investigation, it was found that 14.3% of the individuals who were bullied at the age of thirteen reported that they were depressed by the age of eighteen, however, of the surveyed individuals who stated that they weren’t bullied at the age of thirteen only 5.5% reported that they were depressed by age eighteen (Bowes, Joinson, Wolke, & Lewis, 2015). There are several aspects to focus on to form a better understanding of bullying during adolescence. The first of which are the negative impacts on both the cognitive and physical aspects of the individual, after

Bullying can have a detrimental effect on the psychosocial health, development, and personal growth due to bullying throughout childhood to adolescence (Djurkovic, McCormack, & Casimir, 2012). The experiences associated with bullying in childhood can show elevated levels of psychological stress into adult life because of the adopted behaviours and emotional responses that were established as a child. Adults who felt socially isolated and did not have a chance to develop adequate social skills and relationships in childhood can find themselves as adults with reduced social skills affecting adult relationships, academic outcomes and career paths. The developmental processes can become altered when a child experiences the trauma of bullying thus, associated with feelings of inferiority and low self-concept. This can be related to Erikson’s theories of development. Maladaptive behaviours are learnt and a feeling of inferiority is carried through to adulthood. It further increases the probability of physical issues such as eating disorders, body dissatisfaction such as being overweight, conduct behavioural issues and suicidal behaviours. Research is showing that children who were bullied during childhood or adolescence are more likely to experience bullying in their adult life (Djurkovic et al, 2012). Bullying can and does have a lifelong effect on individuals and ultimately the wider