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Review
. 2015 Sep;100(9):879-85.
doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306667. Epub 2015 Feb 10.

Long-term effects of bullying

Dieter Wolke  1 , Suzet Tanya Lereya  2
Affiliations
Review

Long-term effects of bullying

Dieter Wolke et al. Arch Dis Child. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Bullying is the systematic abuse of power and is defined as aggressive behaviour or intentional harm-doing by peers that is carried out repeatedly and involves an imbalance of power. Being bullied is still often wrongly considered as a 'normal rite of passage'. This review considers the importance of bullying as a major risk factor for poor physical and mental health and reduced adaptation to adult roles including forming lasting relationships, integrating into work and being economically independent. Bullying by peers has been mostly ignored by health professionals but should be considered as a significant risk factor and safeguarding issue.

Keywords: Child Abuse; General Paediatrics; Outcomes research; Psychology; School Health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The impact of being bullied on functioning in teenagers and adulthood.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adjusted mean young adult C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (mg/L) based on childhood/adolescent bullying status. These values are adjusted for baseline CRP levels as well as other CRP-related covariates. All analyses used robust SEs to account for repeated observations (reproduced from Copeland et al64).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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