Bullying in schools:
School bullying is one of the most common global phenomena among students, present in various educational institutions around the world to the extent that UNICEF has prioritized it in its work. The danger of this phenomenon lies in the long-term psychological effects it leaves on the personalities of students who are subjected to it. It is not an exaggeration to say that many of the psychological problems adults face can be traced back to the negative experiences they had during childhood or adolescence, including being bullied in school.
Fortunately, the attention of many institutions around the world has turned to the danger of this phenomenon, and they have begun to dedicate many efforts to overcome it. So, what is school bullying, what are its forms, what are its effects on students, and how can it be addressed and overcome? This is what we will discuss in this article.
What is school bullying?
School bullying refers to the repeated aggressive behavior that occurs between students, where one or more students use their power or influence to intimidate or harm others within the school environment. Bullying can take different forms, including physical, verbal, and social bullying, often occurring repeatedly over time, creating a pattern of harassment and intimidation.According to a report by UNICEF, bullying is defined by ensuring the presence of these factors: intent, repetition, and power. Bullying is a repeated behavioral pattern, not a single incident.
The key factors of bullying involve one party being stronger than the other and the intentional harassment continuing for long periods rather than just a one-time occurrence. Therefore, isolated incidents that do not repeat or conflicts between equally matched students in physical or personal strength - whether in person or online - are not defined as bullying.
The reason why the phenomenon of bullying has been given importance and made one of the focal points of UNICEF's concern is its significant negative impact on the victim, as bullying in any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium-term, or long-term effects on mental well-being.
Types of School Bullying and Its Forms:
School bullying (bullying in schools) can manifest in different forms and types, each representing different challenges and consequences for students exposed to bullying. Here is an overview of these forms:Physical bullying
Verbal bullying
Social bullying
Racial, ethnic, or cultural bullying
1. Physical Bullying
It is one of the dangerous forms of school bullying! Physical bullying includes actions such as hitting, kicking, pushing, or any other form of physical assault aimed at harming or disturbing the weaker student. This type of bullying is often more visible and may lead to clear injuries, but it can also be covert, such as intentionally tripping someone or stealing their belongings.
This type of bullying can occur in different places, including classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, or even on the school bus or in the street after leaving school.
This type of bullying can occur in different places, including classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, or even on the school bus or in the street after leaving school.
2. Verbal Bullying
Verbal bullying involves using words to harm, insult, or intimidate others, which may include insults, teasing, mockery, or making demeaning comments about a person's appearance, intelligence, or background. Verbal bullying can be particularly harmful because it attacks the victim's self-respect and can lead to psychological distress, feelings of shame, embarrassment, and a sense of worthlessness, ultimately leading to social isolation.
3. Social Bullying
It is a form of bullying in schools that involves manipulating social relationships to exclude, reject, or undermine the social status of the victim within the peer group. This may include spreading rumors or gossip, excluding the victim from social activities, or forming groups to isolate the victim.
This type of bullying can be covert and secretive, making it difficult for teachers and parents to recognize and address it. It can have significant psychological effects on the student being targeted, leading to feelings of loneliness, rejection, and social isolation.
This type of bullying can be covert and secretive, making it difficult for teachers and parents to recognize and address it. It can have significant psychological effects on the student being targeted, leading to feelings of loneliness, rejection, and social isolation.
4. Racism, ethnic, or cultural bullying
is a type of school bullying that targets students based on their race, origin, nationality, or cultural background. This type of bullying may involve the use of racial insults, making derogatory comments or jokes about someone's race or religion, or excluding individuals based on their cultural identity.
Racial bullying leads to perpetuating stereotypes, bias, and discrimination, creating an atmosphere of hostility and bigotry within the school community.
Each form and type of bullying in schools can have devastating effects on the physical, emotional, and psychological health of the victimized students, as well as on the overall school climate and culture. Therefore, addressing bullying requires a clear approach from all members of the school community to prevent this vile phenomenon.
Racial bullying leads to perpetuating stereotypes, bias, and discrimination, creating an atmosphere of hostility and bigotry within the school community.
Each form and type of bullying in schools can have devastating effects on the physical, emotional, and psychological health of the victimized students, as well as on the overall school climate and culture. Therefore, addressing bullying requires a clear approach from all members of the school community to prevent this vile phenomenon.
Effects of school bullying and its harms
Bullying in schools can have deep and lasting effects on students, affecting various aspects of their lives including their mental and emotional health, academic performance, and social relationships. The following are some effects of school bullying on students:
- Physical health
- Emotional and psychological health
- Academic performance
- Social effects
- Behavioral effects
- Long-term effects
1. Physical health
Victims of physical bullying may suffer immediate physical injuries such as bruises, wounds, or bone fractures resulting from direct physical assault. In addition, chronic exposure to stress and psychological stress from bullying can weaken the immune system, making victims more susceptible to diseases.As a study by the NLM indicates, bullying affects children's brains, as they suffer from a decrease in their response to reward and the disruption of the brain region responsible for memory and learning. This impairment weakens their ability to deal with challenges and understand their experiences, highlighting the importance of understanding these effects and providing necessary support to affected children.
Victims may also experience physical and psychological symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, irritable bowel syndrome, or muscle pain due to ongoing stress and anxiety associated with bullying.
Additionally, continuous bullying can worsen existing mental health conditions or lead to new ones, such as anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or suicidal thoughts.
Chronic stress and emotional disturbance resulting from bullying also weaken cognitive performance, memory, and problem-solving skills, hindering students' ability to learn and retain information.
Victims may also experience physical and psychological symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, irritable bowel syndrome, or muscle pain due to ongoing stress and anxiety associated with bullying.
2. Emotional and Mental Health
Bullying can significantly impact students' mental health, leading to exacerbation of feelings of fear, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. They may also experience ongoing emotional distress, including sadness, desire for isolation and loneliness, which will affect their well-being and overall life.Additionally, continuous bullying can worsen existing mental health conditions or lead to new ones, such as anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or suicidal thoughts.
3. Academic Performance
School bullying can interfere with students' ability to concentrate and participate in class, leading to academic difficulties and underachievement. Victims may experience a decline in their academic performance due to increased school absenteeism or avoidance of school-related activities to escape bullying situations.Chronic stress and emotional disturbance resulting from bullying also weaken cognitive performance, memory, and problem-solving skills, hindering students' ability to learn and retain information.
4. Social Effects
School bullying significantly affects the victim's social relationships and interactions, leading to social withdrawal and difficulty in forming trustworthy friendships. Victims may feel feelings of isolation and rejection from their peers, leading to a sense of detachment from the school community and a lack of belonging.
Bullying can also damage students' self-confidence and have a negative impact on their social skills, making it difficult for them to deal with social situations and establish healthy relationships in the future.
Bullying can also damage students' self-confidence and have a negative impact on their social skills, making it difficult for them to deal with social situations and establish healthy relationships in the future.
5. Behavioral Effects
Bullying victims may exhibit changes in behavior, such as nervousness and quick anger as mechanisms created by the mind to deal with the stress and shock resulting from bullying. Bullying may also contribute to the development of harmful addictive behaviors such as drug abuse or wasting time on trivial and unhelpful things as a means to escape reality or cope with emotional pain and distress.
6. Long-Term Effects
The effects of school bullying can extend into adolescence, affecting the mental and psychological health of victims, their relationships, and their overall life satisfaction. Bullying victims may carry scars, psychological effects, and emotional traumas into adolescence, affecting their self-respect, confidence, and ability to trust others.How to address and overcome the phenomenon of school bullying
As we mentioned, school bullying is a serious problem that can have long-term negative effects on students' mental well-being and academic performance. Overcoming bullying in schools requires a comprehensive approach involving everyone, including parents, teachers, school administrators, and the students themselves. By implementing some steps, we can create a safe environment for students to combat bullying behavior and support those who are victims of this phenomenon. Here are some effective steps to overcome school bullying:
1. Raise awareness
As we mentioned, school bullying is a serious problem that can have long-term negative effects on students' mental well-being and academic performance. Overcoming bullying in schools requires a comprehensive approach involving everyone, including parents, teachers, school administrators, and the students themselves. By implementing some steps, we can create a safe environment for students to combat bullying behavior and support those who are victims of this phenomenon. Here are some effective steps to overcome school bullying:
1. Raise awareness
The first step in addressing school bullying is to raise awareness about its harmful effects and the importance of creating a safe and respectful school environment. Therefore, schools should organize awareness campaigns for students, teachers, and parents to educate them about the consequences of bullying and the importance of combating it to provide a safe school environment for students.
2. Encouraging reporting of bullying incidents
Schools should promote a supportive culture for students who are being bullied, where there is zero tolerance for bullying and where students feel comfortable reporting incidents without fear of retaliation. Reporting bullying incidents to school authorities allows for early intervention and prevents further harm to the victim. By addressing bullying promptly, schools can mitigate the negative effects on the student and prevent the escalation of bullying behavior.
In addition, encouraging students to report bullying holds the bullies accountable for their actions and helps send a clear message that bullying behavior will not be tolerated, deterring future incidents by outlining consequences for those engaging in such behavior.
It is important to consider that students need to feel safe and confident when reporting bullying incidents. Therefore, schools should establish multiple reporting channels, such as anonymous reporting systems and trusted staff, to ensure that victims can report incidents without fear of retaliation. It is crucial to investigate all reports promptly and take appropriate action to address this issue.
It is important to consider that students need to feel safe and confident when reporting bullying incidents. Therefore, schools should establish multiple reporting channels, such as anonymous reporting systems and trusted staff, to ensure that victims can report incidents without fear of retaliation. It is crucial to investigate all reports promptly and take appropriate action to address this issue.
3.Supporting the victims
As mentioned, victims of school bullying often suffer from psychological problems and may need support to deal with the situation. By providing support, schools can create a safe space for students to express their feelings, address their experiences, and receive counseling or therapy if necessary. This support can help them regain their confidence and self-respect.
Schools have a responsibility to ensure the safety and protection of all students, and by providing support to students who are bullied, schools send a clear message that they take bullying seriously and will not tolerate such behavior. This can deter further bullying and create a safer school environment for everyone.
Schools have a responsibility to ensure the safety and protection of all students, and by providing support to students who are bullied, schools send a clear message that they take bullying seriously and will not tolerate such behavior. This can deter further bullying and create a safer school environment for everyone.
Add to that when victims feel support from the school, they are more likely to report incidents, seek help, and actively participate in anti-bullying initiatives. This enables schools to promote a culture of reporting and intervention, allowing them to identify cases of bullying and address them immediately.
4. Teacher Training
Teachers play a vital role in creating a positive and safe environment for students by listening to them and providing the necessary support and protection. Therefore, teachers should receive training from experts to guide them and help them recognize bullying behavior and how to address it, as well as equip them with conflict resolution skills to intervene effectively and immediately if they observe bullying incidents to prevent further psychological harm to the victim. Teacher training undoubtedly contributes to dealing with cases of bullying and creating a positive school climate where students feel safe, valued, and respected.
5. Involving Parents and Guardians
Parents have a fundamental right to know about any incidents that may affect the safety and well-being of their children while they are at school. By informing parents about cases of bullying, schools empower them to support their children and take appropriate actions to address the situation. In addition, parents who are informed about bullying are better equipped to actively engage with the school and collaborate on bullying prevention strategies and provide psychological support to their children.
Furthermore, by involving parents in this process, schools can benefit from their insights, perspectives, and resources to enhance prevention and intervention efforts more effectively.
Furthermore, by involving parents in this process, schools can benefit from their insights, perspectives, and resources to enhance prevention and intervention efforts more effectively.
In addition, sharing information about bullying cases with parents helps identify patterns or underlying issues contributing to bullying behavior, as parents can provide valuable insights into their children's behavior, relationships, and experiences outside of school, which can benefit the school in addressing bullying cases.