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Mental Health Effects On Bullying

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In the present day, numerous hours are spent discussing bullying and its mental health effects, but very little is spent on the mental issues the bullies themselves have. Historically, research into mental health related to bullying focused exclusively on those being bullied. These studies found a negative effect on mental health by being bullied, and how some people on the receiving end of bullying have mental health issues to begin with. However, a new study looked at the mental health of those who are considered bullies. Analyzing the influence mental health has on bullying verifies the association between the two, causing the need for resources to decrease bullying. Mental health disorders are becoming increasingly understood among individuals …show more content…

With the data compiled and analyzed, researchers were able to look into the correlations between mental health and bullying behavior. When looking at the data compared between the two, it showed a significantly higher likelihood the child was a bully if they were diagnosed with a mental illness. "Of children with no mental health problems, 13% were identified as bullies compared with nearly 30% of children with mental health disorders (p<.0001)" (Benedict et al., 787-788). The findings showcase a powerful connection between mental illnesses and bullying patterns. The odds of being a bully are over doubled with the diagnosis of a mental illness, showing the need for care not just for the bullied students, but of bullies too, as they have even more prominent mental health issues. The connection is not prevalent to just one mental illness though, as the research found that all mental illnesses have almost equal odds of bully behavior. "A sub-analysis by type of mental health disorder found that children diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and ADHD each had a threefold or nearly threefold increased odds of being a bully" (Benedict et al., 788). With this information, the evidence shows that all tested mental illnesses have equal likelihood to become bullies, not just one mental illness, proving all mental health needs must be properly dealt with to lower the bullying crisis. After the experiment, researchers found clear evidence showing mental health issues are not just prevalent in bullying victims, but often in the bullies themselves. "While victims of bullying are more commonly associated with mental health disorders, this study demonstrated that the diagnosis of a mental health disorder is strongly associated with being identified as a bully" (Benedict et al., 788). With this new realization,

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