Long-Term Effects of Bullying

When bullying happens, everyone who is involved or witnesses it can have lasting impacts on their mental health and well-being. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes, including increased risks of depression and anxiety, substance use, and suicide. Knowing the potential effects and how to support kids in bullying situations is important to making sure kids get the help and resources they need to heal.

• Kids Who Are Bullied
• Kids Who Bully Others
• Kids Who Are Bullied and Bully Others
• Kids Who Witness Bullying
• The Relationship Between Suicide and Bullying

Kids Who Are Bullied

Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical, social, emotional, academic, and mental health issues that can last into adulthood. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience:

• Depression and anxiety disorders, symptoms of borderline personality disorder, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, like sports teams and clubs.
• Self-esteem issues with feelings of shame that can impact all aspects of kids’ lives.
• Health complaints, including higher rates of headaches, stomach aches, and colds.
• Behaviors, like increased rates of smoking, that increase the risk of future health concerns, like higher stress levels and sleeping problems.
• Decreased academic achievement, like lower GPA, standardized test scores, and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.
• Struggles with friendships and maintaining relationships later in life.

Though the majority of kids who are bullied do not express violence toward others, a very small number of children who are bullied might retaliate through violent measures. In school shooting cases between 2013 and 2019, 60% of the shooters reported being bullied in person or online. For more resources on preventing targeted school violence, check out SchoolSafety.gov’s Threat Assessment Resource for K-12 Schools.

If you’re experiencing bullying, there are things you can do to keep yourself and other kids safe from bullying. Adults also play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying and there are tools for adults that can help ensure all children are safe. Working with children to build resilience can help kids who were bullied overcome these challenges and begin to thrive once again.

Kids Who Bully Others

Kids who bully others can also engage in violent and other risky behaviors into adulthood. Kids who bully are more likely to:

• Abuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in adolescence and adulthood.
• Experience depression or self-harm.
• Have poor academic achievement, miss, or drop out of school.
• Experience aggressive and impulsive behavior, resulting in higher risks of vandalism, fights, traffic offenses, and criminal charges.
• Perpetuate dating violence as early as eighth grade and become abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults.

Kids Who Are Bullied and Bully Others

Kids who have been bullied themselves while also bullying others suffer the most serious consequences. These kids have the highest risk of mental health and behavioral problems, making it crucial for adults to connect these youth with support and resources like mental health counseling. Kids who are bullied and bully others are more likely to:

• Engage in early sexual activity and become a young parent.
• Struggle with making and keeping friendships.
• Have trouble keeping a job and honoring financial commitments in adulthood.
• Experience mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and antisocial personality disorder, as well as similar physical health concerns to kids who were only bullied.

Kids Who Witness Bullying

Bullying also impacts kids who are not directly involved but witness the bullying taking place. These kids may:

• Have increased feelings of helplessness or guilt for being unable to stop or prevent it.
• Feel unsafe at school, which can affect academic performance, mental health, and school climate.
• Use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs at increased rates.
• Experience increased risk for mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
• Have poor school attendance due to missing or skipping school.

The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide

Suicide is a serious concern for all kids who experience traumatic situations or mental health issues, including bullying. Although most kids who are bullied do not experience suicidal thoughts or self-harm, there is a strong connection between those who do present signs of suicide and a history of bullying.

In one study of youth visiting emergency departments with suicidal ideation, researchers found that kids who reported cyberbullying were 11.5 times more likely to present suicidal ideation, while individuals reporting verbal bullying were 8.4 times more likely.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time, day or night, for free and confidential support from a counselor. All you have to do is dial or text 988.

It’s important to talk to all kids about what’s going on in their lives to determine if they’re involved in bullying or other concerning behaviors. Support from parents and caregivers, peers, and adults at school can help prevent and repair the consequences of bullying.