Adults bullied as children suffer physical, mental health and social issues even decades after the abuse is over, according to a new research report.
"Our study shows that the effects of bullying are still visible nearly four decades later. The impact of bullying is persistent and pervasive, with health, social and economic consequences lasting well into adulthood," states Dr. Ryu Takizawa, lead author of the paper from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London.
The news comes as schools, parents, educators and child safety advocates continue to advance anti-bullying programs in both educational settings and in social interaction activities. Bullying, especially online through social networks, has become even more prevalent and hard to eliminate giving the new technology that allows bullies to reach victims anytime and anywhere, such as texting.
The study focused on 7,771 children in Britain who were bullied at the ages of 7 and 11 and followed their lives through the age of 50. Results reveal those bullied were more likely to have poorer physical and cognitive functioning at the age of 50, and were also more susceptible to depression, anxiety disorders and even suicidal tendencies.
The bullied adults were more likely to be less educated, more likely to be unemployed and earn less in their adult lifetime. They also seem to suffer more with establishing good relationships and reported lower quality of life and overall life satisfaction.
The study's author says the results reveal more work needs to be done to stop bullying among the youth.
"We need to move away from any perception that bullying is just an inevitable part of growing-up. Teachers, parents and policy-makers should be aware that what happens in the school playground can have long-term repercussions for children," said Professor Louise Arseneault, senior author. "Programs to stop bullying are extremely important, but we also need to focus our efforts on early intervention to prevent potential problems persisting into adolescence and adulthood."
