Question 1

Why do children bully?

Accepted Answer

Children bully for various reasons, from lacking attention at home to feeling superior to others. Regardless, bullying can affect the mental health of the victim and make them feel insecure and angry.

Many reasons could lead to a kid being bullied. Some include:

Trying to fit in. Mostly happens when they see another kid do it and get positive results. This prompts them to do it in order to fit in.
Feeling powerless. This leads them to act up to compensate for their inadequacy. They may also do it to get attention because they see adults react.
They are victims of bullying. They may bully other kids to re-establish their self-worth and power, which can only be earned by putting another person in a similar situation they went through.
Oblivious of the harm caused. Kids rarely know when their actions are causing harm to others or the line they are not supposed to cross when interacting with peers.

It is important to understand that bullying can be detrimental to the victim and should therefore be addressed promptly.

Parent quiz: Child mental health checklist

This 3-minute, online quiz can be used if you think your child is having emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 2

What is bullying?

Accepted Answer

Bullying happens when an individual intentionally uses actions or words against someone or groups with the intention to cause distress. The target of bullying is usually someone perceived as weak or vulnerable and therefore not able to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or over digital platforms, and therefore it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). It also happens to be a repeated behavior or has the potential to be repeated over time. It usually has an immediate, medium, and long-term effect on those involved.

There are four main types of bullying, including;

Physical. This type of bullying involves physically hurting another person, damaging, or stealing their belongings. It is evidenced through hitting, shoving, intimidating, and threatening violence.
Verbal/written. This involves insulting, name-calling, or referencing a physical attribute, characteristic, or quality to hurt another person.
Social. Also known as emotional or social bullying; includes excluding someone, spreading rumors that can have harmful effects, and damaging a person's reputation.
Cyberbullying. This form of bullying occurs online and can be verbal or written. It can include threats of violence, sharing of images and videos. There are other specific forms of bullying like racial and homophobic, and transphobic bullying, which share many similarities with the types of bullying mentioned before.

Parent quiz: Child mental health checklist

This 3-minute, online quiz can be used if you think your child is having emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 3

How does bullying affect mental health?

Accepted Answer

Many people think of bullying as a schoolyard problem, but its mental health effects are far beyond schools. Many children who are bullied face a heightened risk of social and emotional issues in the short and long term. Such effects can last to adulthood.

Bullying happens when children get physically or socially discriminated against by others, and then the bullies use their advantages over the targets to torment them. Short-term effects may include anxiety, self-harm thoughts, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulty sleeping.

Most of these experiences fade away with time, but the person never really forgets about them. From research, most children who experience bullying at a young age are highly susceptible to mental health problems as they grow older.

Effects of bullying can persist into old age, and some of the long-term effects include panic disorders, depression, and generalized anxiety. Both bullies and the bullied have problems and struggle as adults. Some resort to substance abuse to minimize the effect of the feelings they retain from childhood.

Parent quiz: Child mental health checklist

This 3-minute, online quiz can be used if you think your child is having emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 4

How do you know if your child is being bullied?

Accepted Answer

There are many warning signs that may indicate your child is a victim of bullying. As a parent, you should be on the lookout for these tell-tale signs so as to address the issue promptly. As you look for signs of bullying in your child, remember that not all bullied children exhibit explicit signs of bullying.

Some signs to pay attention to include:

Unexplainable bruises, cuts, and other injuries
Has few friends who they spend time with
Comes home with torn clothes or missing books and other belongings
Is afraid to walk to school, walk home alone, or partake in social activities with peers
Makes up excuses not to go to school
Has lost interest in schoolwork or begins to perform poorly
Appears moody or depressed when he/she comes home from school
Has trouble sleeping
Experiences a loss of appetite

If you notice any of these changes in your child, it is important to talk to him/her to understand better what they are going through. You should also share your concerns with the school counselor or psychologist.

Parent quiz: Child mental health checklist

This 3-minute, online quiz can be used if you think your child is having emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Why do children bully?

Parent quiz: Child mental health checklist

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