Around two to sixteen percent of children under the age of 18 bully others, says Paul Quinlan, D.O., Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Services at the University of Michigan Health System. Many children who become bullies do so because their parents are verbally or physically abusive to them, says Pamela Daniel, Ph.D. in an article for the Children's Physician Network. Children who are picked on by parents or siblings or who suffer physical, mental or sexual abuse may be more likely to become bullies as they don't have any other outlet for their feelings of shame, frustration or anger.
According to the non-profit social change organization DoSomething.org, one in seven students in grades K through 12 is a victim of bullying. But the exact reasons that bullies choose their victims are not entirely clear. Some kids might be bullied because they exhibit certain risk factors, says the StopBullying.gov website. Kids who are bullied might be perceived as weak or not fit in with the crowd. They tend to be less popular and don't have many friends, or they might be viewed as annoying or antagonistic. But even if a child displays these traits, there's no guarantee that he or she will be a target.
Bullying is a serious problem that can have lasting consequences that extend well into adulthood. Children who are bullied might become more socially withdrawn, anxious or depressed; they might also suffer from the consequences of bullying even as adults. Young adults who were bullied may have a higher risk of developing serious psychiatric disorders, such as agoraphobia, according to a study published in the February 20, 2013 issue of "JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Psychiatry." Another study published in the August 19, 2013 issue of the journal, "Psychological Science," found that victims of childhood bullying may have a higher risk of poor health, financial troubles and poor social relationships in adulthood.
A study published in the July 2005 issue of the journal "Children & Schools," suggests a multi-tiered approach involving parents, educators, mental health professionals and school staff to help prevent bullying, such as including bullying prevention programs into educational curriculum and having regular classroom meetings to discuss bullying. StopBullying.gov, an anti-bullying website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also suggests several steps that parents and educators can take to help prevent bullying through education. Talk to children and help them understand that bullying is unacceptable. Let them know that they should seek help from an adult if they witness or are victims of bullying. Keeping the lines of communication open is crucial so that children don't feel the need to hide in shame. Encouraging children to take part in productive, fun and creative activities may help keep kids safe from bullying by increasing confidence and creating meaningful friendships.