The effects of childhood trauma on bullying - mental health
University of Edinburgh MA Social Policy and Economics, United Kingdom.
Research Article
International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Updates, 2025, 09(01), 001-012.
Article DOI: 10.53430/ijmru.2025.9.1.0018
Publication history:
received on 09 December 2024; revised on 14 january 2025; accepted on 17 january 2025
Abstract:
Bullying is the systematic abuse of power and is defined as aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing by peers that is carried out repeatedly and involves an imbalance of power. Being bullied is still often wrongly considered 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. In addition, the present relationship between childhood trauma and the risk of bullying, in any of the capacity to either become a target, a bully or both, is explained. The review also considered the differences between direct, relational, and cyberbullying, as well as the effects on both the target, self, and the perpetrator. Particular emphasis is placed on the cumulative response and the possible consequences of bullying in the future, including the emotional state in the form of anxiety, depression, cutting oneself, and thoughts about suicide, but only among those children who face bullying every day. Through emphasizing the intricate processes and the broad impacts of bullying, this paper supports a much-engaged approach towards such issues as: early identification of bullying; the use of school-based prevention methods, and helping the students who have been bullied.
Keywords:
Child Abuse; Psychology; School Health; General Pediatrics; Outcomes Research; Bullying
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0