Bullying and the Effects

Risk Factors

There is no specific factor that puts a child a risk for being bullied by others or being the bully themselves. Bullying can take place in any type of area, for example, a suburban area, rural areas, and cities. Factors such as children who appear different from their peers like being obese or really tiny, even having a different type of clothing, are at risk of being bullied by others. Also factors such as a child who cannot afford items that other children have, like certain electronics or clothes, are considered risks. When a child cannot defend themselves or have less popularity than others, they tend to be targets for bullying.

On the other hand, there are children who are at risk for being the bully. Very social, controlling type children are at risk for being the bully. Children who are bullies tend to have characteristics such as being assertive, enjoying violence or thinking positively of it; other issues such as trouble at home or being friends with a bully can heighten the risks.

Warning Signals

When a child is being bullied, that does not mean that they will tell someone. It is important to be able to recognize the signs a child may reveal if they are being bullied. Signals that can be connected to bullying are a child returning home from school with injuries that they cannot explain; also coming home hungry because they skipped lunch could indicate some type of bullying if the child is scared to go to lunch. Behaviors such as keeping to themselves and avoiding social interactions can be signals of a child being bullied; self-destructive behavior such as running away or suicidal talk are also indicators.

Just as there are signals for children being bullied, there are also signals for a child that is be...

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...ion to relieve symptoms of pain, sometimes being the gateway for the abuse of controlled substances at a later time.

Interventions

Intervention measures should be carried out by school counselors, parents, teachers, and even the school itself. Programs that are focused on educating children about the effects of bullying and how to prevent it or stop it, is a important step in the intervention of bullying. Parents can teach their children how to respond to a bully if confronted and what to do in the aftermath of the confrontation, which will better prepare them for a situation like that; also, helping the child feel more comfortable telling someone what happened. Getting to the root of why bullies pursue such bad behaviors can be a step in stopping the behavior, and preventing the bullying of future victims; therefore, creating a better environment for all children.