Effects of Bullying: Mental, Physical and Long-Term Impact

01Types

Types of bullying

• Physical: hitting, pushing, damaging belongings.
• Verbal: name-calling, insults, threats.
• Social or relational: excluding, spreading rumours, humiliating.
• Cyberbullying: messages, posts, images or videos online.
• Prejudice-based: targeting race, religion, disability, sexuality or gender identity.

02Short

Short-term effects

• Anxiety, fear and feeling unsafe.
• Sadness, tearfulness and low mood.
• Low self-esteem and self-blame.
• Sleep problems and nightmares.
• Headaches, stomach aches and feeling unwell.
• Avoiding school, falling grades and difficulty concentrating.
• Withdrawal from friends and activities.
• Anger or acting out.

03Long

Long-term effects

A research review in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry concluded that being bullied has persistent and pervasive effects, including increased risk of anxiety, depression, self-harm and psychotic symptoms, poorer physical health and lower educational and economic outcomes, with some effects detectable decades later. A long-term study following children into adulthood found that those bullied had higher rates of anxiety disorders as adults, and bully-victims had the highest risk of depression, panic disorder and suicidality. Children who bullied others had a higher risk of antisocial personality disorder.

04Cyber

Effects of cyberbullying

• Can happen at any time, including at home.
• Content can spread quickly to large audiences.
• Perpetrators may be anonymous.
• Posts and images may be hard to remove.
• Associated with anxiety, depression, sleep problems and self-harm.
• Keep evidence, block and report accounts, and tell a trusted adult.

05Signs

Signs a child may be bullied

• Reluctance to go to school or wanting to be driven.
• Unexplained injuries, torn clothes or lost belongings.
• Changes in eating or sleeping.
• Becoming withdrawn, anxious or tearful.
• Falling school performance.
• Avoiding phones or computers, or being upset after using them.
• Losing friends or not being invited to things.
• Talking about themselves negatively.

06Help child

How parents can help

• Stay calm and listen without judging.
• Reassure your child that it is not their fault and that telling was the right thing.
• Avoid encouraging retaliation.
• Keep a record of incidents and any online evidence.
• Contact the school and ask about their anti-bullying policy.
• Support friendships and activities outside school.
• Seek help from a doctor or psychologist if your child is struggling.

07Adults

Bullying in adulthood

Bullying also happens in workplaces, families, online communities and relationships. Workplace bullying is associated with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems and burnout. Keeping records, speaking to HR or a union, and seeking support can help. Persistent controlling or humiliating behaviour by a partner may be abuse; see signs of an unhealthy relationship.

08Recover

Recovering from the effects of bullying

• Talk about what happened with someone you trust.
• Recognise that bullying says more about the bully than about you.
• Rebuild confidence through activities you enjoy and are good at.
• Connect with supportive friends and groups.
• Consider therapy, such as CBT, to address anxiety, depression or low self-esteem.
• Our guide to low self-esteem offers practical steps.

09Social

Bullying and social anxiety

Experiences of being humiliated or excluded can contribute to social anxiety: fear of being judged, embarrassed or rejected in social situations. Avoiding social situations may feel protective but can maintain the fear. CBT is effective for social anxiety; see social anxiety disorder.

10Schools

What schools can do

• Have a clear anti-bullying policy that pupils and parents know about.
• Respond quickly and consistently to reports.
• Support both the bullied child and the child who bullies.
• Promote a culture of kindness and inclusion.
• Teach online safety and digital citizenship.
• Involve parents and, where needed, external services.

11Bully

Children who bully others

Children who bully others often need support too. Bullying can be linked to difficulties at home, exposure to violence, problems managing emotions, or being bullied themselves. Long-term research has found that children who bully have a higher risk of later antisocial behaviour, while bully-victims, who both bully and are bullied, have the highest risk of mental health problems. Clear consequences, combined with help to understand the impact of their behaviour and to build empathy and social skills, work better than punishment alone.

12Body

Physical health effects

• Headaches and stomach aches, often on school days.
• Sleep problems and tiredness.
• Changes in appetite.
• Increased risk of self-harm.
• Long-term research links childhood bullying with poorer physical health in adulthood.

13Summary

Key points to remember

• Bullying can have serious short- and long-term effects.
• It is linked to anxiety, depression, self-harm and poorer health.
• Bully-victims and children who bully also need support.
• Listening, involving schools and seeking help reduce harm.