Being Bullied During Childhood Can Lead to Health Problems

Children who are bullied often suffer from low self-esteem, poor grades, and physical health problems that can lead to an unhealthy outlook on life. In the October 2013 Pediatrics study, “Bullied Children and Psychosomatic Problems: A Meta-analysis,” (published online Sept. 16), researchers reviewed data from 30 studies around the world that examined an association between being bullied and psychosomatic problems in children and adolescents. They found that bullied children are twice as likely as non-bullied children to experience psychosomatic symptoms, especially in samples that included a higher proportion of boys. Any reoccurring or unusual physical health symptoms such as headaches, loss of appetite, sleeping problems, abdominal pain or bedwetting should be discussed with a pediatrician who can discuss the warning signs of bullying with the child or parent. If a child is being bullied, parents are encouraged to contact the school for support. Because the negative effects of bullying can cause feelings of anxiousness, depression or even suicide, early detection and intervention is important for improving the health and well-being of bullied children and adolescents.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.