A new study reveals that children who experience repeated bullying exhibit poorer wellbeing and higher levels of depression, with lesbian, gay, bisexual, or disabled children at greater risk.
The research, conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), examined nine- to 13-year-olds using data from the Growing Up in Ireland study. It found that while most young teenagers encounter at least one form of bullying regularly, fewer than one in ten recognize themselves as having been actively bullied.
Among nine-year-olds, four in ten reported being picked on in the past year, rising to more than 60 percent of 13-year-olds. Children who are overweight or identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning were more likely to be targeted.
When presented with examples of bullying, such as being hit, called names, or excluded, 62 percent of 13-year-olds had experienced at least one, with 37 percent facing repeated incidents. Despite this, only 8 percent identified the behavior as bullying. Teenagers were more likely to perceive online abuse and name-calling as bullying than social exclusion.
The study highlighted that children with disabilities or those identifying as LGBTQ+ were more often subjected to social forms of bullying, including exclusion and verbal harassment, rather than physical bullying. Frequent and repeated bullying correlated with poorer wellbeing and higher depression, particularly in cases of exclusion.
“However, these patterns must be interpreted with caution as wellbeing and depression were measured at the same time as bullying experiences,” said authors Emer Smyth and Merike Darmody. “Bullying may contribute to depressive symptoms, but it is also possible that children experiencing depression become targets for bullying.”
The report emphasizes ongoing challenges in promoting inclusion for children with disabilities, who report higher rates of social exclusion and name-calling. It also highlights the need to address homophobic behavior in schools and youth organizations.
A notable finding was the gap between how young people and institutions define bullying. Many children experience upsetting or anger-inducing behavior but do not label it as bullying, making them less likely to report it to adults.
