Bullying and PTSD Symptoms in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Bullying among children and adolescents is a frequent form of victimization that has been linked to a range of psychological outcomes. Findings indicate that exposure to bullying contributes uniquely to children's mental health. Extending findings on associations with mental health research have investigated the associations between bullying and PTSD among children and adolescents and have found quite strong associations between exposure to bullying and PTSD symptoms. Some studies show that more than 30 % of the bullied children scored within the clinical range for PTSD symptoms. No existing studies give absolute evidence for or against bullying as causing the diagnosis of PTSD. However, in accordance with findings related to PTSD in general, bullied children demonstrate dysregulations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Children who are maltreated by caregivers have higher risk of being bullied by peers. Future studies should therefore examine the association between exposure to bullying and PTSD symptoms within a developmental framework with a specific attention to possible multiple victimization. Schools should create traumasensitive environments where a supportive culture allows bullied children to feel physically and emotionally safe.