Newswise — A recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – a leading independent research organization – said bullying is a serious public health problem.
Children who are bullied are more likely to suffer a variety of psychological disorders, including depression and anxiety, and are more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide. Youth who are bullied also report various physical symptoms, including headaches, sleep disturbances and stomach pain, said Jonathan Todres, professor of law at Georgia State University College of Law who served on the study committee.
“In many cases, the mental health consequences of bullying persist into adulthood,” Todres said.
And it’s not just the targets of bullying who suffer.
“Children who bully others and bystanders who witness bullying are also at greater risk of adverse mental health consequences,” he said.
The Academies report identified a number of ways to advance anti-bullying efforts, including training for teachers and others who work with children and adolescents to identify bullying and calling for social media companies to develop policies and programs for preventing and responding to the increasing amount of cyberbullying.
Anti-bullying laws may also help.
Law has played a key role in responding to many public health issues, from infectious diseases to road safety to tobacco use, Todres said. To ensure it does the same for bullying prevention, the Academies report calls for an annual meeting among policymakers, social scientists and professionals who work with children to review research that assesses the implementation and effect of anti-bullying laws and policies.
“The aim is to develop better evidence and ensure that research informs decisions Congress and the state legislatures make to address bullying,” he said.
“From policymakers to parents, tech companies to teachers, we all have a role to play in preventing bullying and ensuring safe environments for children,” Todres said. “Building upon evidence-based research can ensure that we are not just responding to bullying, but that we are responding effectively.”
The full report is available online at http://sites.nationalacademies.org/DBASSE/BCYF/Science_on_Bullying/index.htm.
Jonathan Todres researches and writes on a range of issues related to children’s rights and child well-being. He co-authored a book, Human Rights in Children’s Literature: Imagination and the Narrative of Law, published in 2016. For more information, visit law.gsu.edu/profile/jonathan-todres. You can read his article about bullying published on The Conversation at https://theconversation.com/why-bullying-needs-more-efforts-to-stop-it-58678.
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