Bullying and mental health

Abstract

Bullying, once regarded as a rite of passage, is now recognized as a serious mental health and public health issue. Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior that includes an intention to cause physical or psychological harm, a power imbalance that makes it difficult for the target to defend himself or herself, and repeated occurrence. Bullying can be physical (e.g., hitting, kicking), verbal (e.g., name calling), indirect (e.g., exclusion, rumor spreading), or electronic, also known as cyber-bullying. Mental health is 'a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community'. In this chapter, the impact of bullying on various aspects of mental health, including emotional functioning, relationships, academic performance, and other outcomes, is reviewed for perpetrators, targets, bully-victims, and bystanders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)