Watching bullying can be toxic

School bullying is no laughing matter. Fortunately, schools and governmental agencies are recognizing that bullying victims often carry scars long after the event occurs. New information supports other prior research suggesting that students who merely observe bullying can be profoundly affected.

Research reported in December 2009, based on a study of over 2,000 students in England, has found that children who have observed bullying not only have a wide range of possible negative emotional consequences, but actually have more problems than do the bullied children themselves!

It is important to keep in mind that many children who observe bullying did not have evidence of sustained psychological consequences. However, many did. These symptoms of psychological distress included anxiety, depression, bodily symptoms, drug use, and other common markers of psychological upset.

Why would an observer of bullying suffer as much or even more than the victim? All we can do is to speculate about this, but some have wondered whether children who observe bullying are left with guilt feelings for not having intervened, or whether these children tend to worry that they will be next on the bully’s list.

Whatever the explanation, this study provides more evidence that bullying is indeed toxic to the victim, by-standing observers, and – don’t forget – the bullier himself who is dealing with his own problems in a psychologically and morally problematic way.

Perhaps you have some reasons to have thought about the topic of bullying. We invite you to contribute to a discussion on the topic.

– Mental Health Matters! is written by the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood and posted on the Carolina Parent Magazine's website, the Triangle's family resource - in print for over 21 years!  And online at www.carolinaparent.com.