A recent analysis comparing the long-term impacts of bullying and child abuse on children’s mental health reveals that bullying by peers can cause as much or even more psychological harm than abuse by adults. By the time victims of repeated bullying reach young adulthood, many experience high rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These rates are comparable to those seen in children who have experienced both abuse and bullying.
Contrarily, children who are maltreated by adults but not bullied tend to exhibit fewer persistent mental health issues later in life. In the UK, abused children without bullying experiences show mental health rates similar to those of children who were neither maltreated nor bullied. In the US, abused children are more likely to suffer from depression in adulthood compared to those who were not maltreated or bullied.
Dieter Wolke from the University of Warwick emphasizes that bullying should not be dismissed as a normal part of growing up, noting its serious and enduring negative effects on children. Approximately one in three children globally report being bullied, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.
The findings underscore the importance of coordinated efforts among parents, schools, and child protection services to combat bullying. However, Corinna Jenkins Tucker from the University of New Hampshire warns against oversimplifying comparisons between different forms of victimization, urging researchers to explore how various types of victimization accumulate over time to impact mental health.
