Bullying: What It Is and How To Deal With It

Bullying is a big deal, and it really hurts people. It’s just not something you have to go through as a kid. It’s when someone who has more power picks on another person over and over. This article talks about how common bullying is and how you can deal with it as a kid or parent of a kid being bullied.

Bullying is everywhere, sadly, and comes in different forms. According to National Center for Education Statistics, 2022, one of every five (19.2%) students report being bullied, female students (22 %) more than male (17%), middle schoolers (26%) more than high schoolers (15%), and students with developmental disabilities (44%) more than non-disabled students (31%). Students are most frequently bullied for their personal appearance (33%), race (13%), ethnicity (9.4%), sexual orientation (9%) and religion (6%). Most common type of bullying is spreading rumors (13%), followed by being made fun of or called names (12%) and physical (5%). While bullying generally happens on school campus (39%), cyberbullying (27%) has become more common among teenagers with mean and humiliating comments posted online, exclusion from group chats and rumors spread online.

As a result of bullying, students have experienced poor self-image and self confidence (28%), impaired academic performance (20%), relationship conflicts (19%) and even physical problems (13%). Bullying can result in physical injury, fear, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, anger outbursts, behavioral problems, sleep difficulties, and changing schools or dropping out.

When bullying happens, it is important to have a good plan to stop it and help the person being targeted. The first step is to tell a grown-up you trust, like a parent, teacher or school counselor. This gives you support and gets others in the loop. It is important to have a safe place to talk and even consider seeking help from a professional. Learning to cope with stress is very helpful. For the person doing the bullying, the best approach is to teach why their actions are wrong and how to be a better person, instead of just a harsh punishment.

In summary, bullying is a big deal, it occurs in different ways, and we all have a part to play in handling it. By knowing what to look for and taking a stand, we can help those being targeted and make things safer for everyone.