THE EFFECTS OF

BULLYING

BY ILIANA AND SOFIA S.

 Definition of Bullying
“Seek harm, intimidate, or coerce
(someone pierced as vulnerable.”

Details of Bullying
Bullying commonly takes place in high
school and targeted towards innocent
people. It can be done by hurtful
words, physical abuse, and through
social media. Bullying happens more
than people think and sometimes is not
brought to others attention. It is done
to bring others down and feel bad
towards themselves. We should bring
awareness as it can take a toll on
young adults mental health.
 Effects

“youth who are bullied generally show higher levels

of insecurity, anxiety, depression, loneliness,
unhappiness, physical and mental symptoms, and low
self esteem” (Gruber and Finerman).

The victims who are experiencing the bullying tend to be

targeted because of their appearances. They may act differently
or be different then the other people around them. The victims
tend to be dealing with some type of personal emotions and the
bully use that as a way to target them. They may make fun of or
critisize them because of the way they act or feel. For example
like depression, insecurity, physical symptoms, etc.
 Effects

“Stress process theory posits that

exposure to life stressors
increases one’s vulnerability to
negative health and mental health
outcomes as one ages” (Baiden
and Tadeo)

This can go towards the bully and the victim. The bully
can experience severe stress which can cause them to
react and take it out on others. They might not have the
proper resources to where they can address their issues.
As for the victims, being constantly bullied can cause
stress in their daily lives which can lead to mental heath.
 “Other studies
have indicated
that those who
were victimized
by bullies also
showed problems
with social
EFFECTS
relationships,
poor physical
health and
financial
difficulties in
adulthood”
(Arseneault)

Being a victim can also change the way you

interact with others. You tend to keep to
yourself in fear that it will happen again. These
characteristics can carry on into adult hood. It
stops you from putting yourself out there and
interacting with others.

 According to Justin W. Patchin from the Youth Violence and

Juvenile Justice published in 2018, “Of note, even though only
one-fifth (20.3%) of students reported they had “taken part in
bullying another student or students at school,” 27% said they
had “called other students mean names, made fun of, or teased”
someone else in the last 30 days,” (Justin W. Patchin).

https://rossieronline.usc.edu/blog/school-bullying-
outbreak-infographic/

The term bullying does not always mean that someone is

specifically bullying an individual in a direct or physical way.
Most students have been involved in a form of bullying,
whether it’s formally bullying, not speaking up about
witnessing bullying, entertaining gossiping, and even more
forms. Just because you were not the one initiating the
bullying, not speaking up does some damage for the victim as
well.
 Gossiping
"In other words, it is the intentions of the gossipers
and the consciousness with which information is
distributed that distinguishes innocent bonding from
a malicious attack,” (Cynthia Maria Ganesh).

https://www.science.org/content/ar https://theconversation.com/the-
ticle/gossiping-may-start-early-5- science-of-gossip-four-ways-to-make-it-
years-old less-toxic-75318

Gossiping is possibly one of the worst forms of bullying. This is

extremely hard on people who receive the treatment of bullying
because this is behind the individual's back. Some people who may
not be directly involved in gossiping, might get some satisfaction
from being involved in the form of bullying because they might get
on the person who is spreading the rumor's good side to seem
“cooler”. Gossiping can occur in schools and can even happen in a
work environment. No matter where this act of bullying is
occurring, it is still harmful to the individual(s) backs no matter their
age.
 Unique Differences

According to Julian J.
Mendez from the Hispanic
Journal of Behavioral
Sciences published in 2012,
“Other studies are consistent
with this notion, showing
that students who are
dissimilar from their peers in
any way are frequently the
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/coro
victims of bullying,” (Julian J. navirus-covid-19-local-news/heres-why-
vancouverites-who-live-alone-might-be-self-
Mendez). isolating-by-choice-3295513

Being bullied for being different from others can really

cause someone's self esteem to decrease and cause
them, to possibly, become depressed. This can also
cause individuals to have this bullying take a turn for the
worse and could end up with the person inflicting self-
harm on themselves or even possibly suicide. Instead of
bringing people down because of their unique
differences, we should all embrace them and be proud
that we are not all the same.

According to Jacqlyn L.
Yourell and Jennifer L.
Doty from The Journal
of School Health which https://www.cultursmag.com/a-
look-at-body-shaming-around-
was published in 2022, the-world/
“Weight-based bullying
involves unwanted
words or behaviors
directed at body weight
or size verbally,
relationally, physically,
or online,” (Jacqlyn L.
Yourell and Jennifer L.
Doty).

Body
Shaming

Another reason a lot of individuals end up being

bullied is because of their weight or their body
type. People who experience bullying for their
body type might end up being self conscious
with their body and become insecure or even
experience body dysmorphia and/or an eating
disorder. There can be numerous ways someone
can bully someone about their weight, some ways
are verbally, mentally, physically and more.
 Bullying Within the
LGBTQ+ Community
According to Sherice
Gearhart and Weiwu Zhang
from the Social Science
Computer Review published
in 2014, “Spurred by the
number of suicides in late
2010 among youth in the gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender community
(GLBT), this issue has
increasingly become a topic
https://xtramagazine.com/power/anti- of public debate,” (Sherice
bullying-days-day-of-pink-queer-169743
Gearhart and Weiwu Zhang).
Individuals who are a part of the
LGBTQ+ community, sometimes,
tend to feel like they are not
being themselves and will never
be accepted because of their
sexuality. With being made fun of
at school or in public, this does
not make it any easier for them.
Sometimes they feel like they do
not even belong in their own
family and having the torment
continue outside of home could
cause mental stress and could
possibly cause them to inflict
physical pain on themselves.
https://www.copaa.org/page/LGBTQ
 Conclusion

Bullying is an action that occurs more

commonly then we think. It is something
that effects young kids mental and
physical health. It can cause issues in the
long run in peoples lives. It causes
depression, social anxiety, and stress upon
themselves. The reason people tend to
bully others is because they are going
through personal conflicts within
themselves. With these conflicts they take
it out on others who seem vulnerable.
Bullies target those who appear to be
different or less confident in themselves.
This is something that should be educated
and taught to everyone so that it can come
to a stop. .
 Conclusion

Bullying is very common, with it occurring in schools, social

medial, and even in the work place, yet, should not be
something that is still happening. Bullying seems to be
something that everyone has experienced within their lives
at least once before. This can mean formally engaging in
bullying, not saying anything about someone bullying
another student, engaging in gossiping and more. Bullying
should be taken care of more efficiently in order for this
violent act to stop tormenting individuals. The world would
be a better and happier place if this were to stop.

https://wapave.org/bullying-at-school-
resources-and-the-rights-of-students-
with-special-needs/