Victims of Childhood Bullying are Likely to Suffer Serious Health Problems: Study

Bullied children are more susceptible to heart diseases and physical illnesses in later years, according to a study.

It is known that bullying and peer victimization in childhood and adolescence has profound effects on an individuals' mental health and well being that persists even later. The trauma from repeated bullying, abuse and physical intimidation results in severe depression, anxiety and suicidal behavior in teens.  

Recently, experts found physical consequences of bullying triggered an increase in the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood, which is a marker of low-grade inflammation in the body. The ones who bully others enjoy long-term health benefits through the attention, social status and treatment meted out in life's crucial years.

For the study, researchers examined data from the Great Smoky Mountains Study involving about 1,420 people who were followed for more than 20 years. The participants were surveyed about their childhood, teenage and early youth experiences on bullying and experts also tested their blood samples to note biological factors impacted by unpleasant bullying episodes.

It was observed that CRP levels were particularly high among participants who were bullied in childhood when they reached adulthood. The findings revealed the rise in CRP levels were directly linked to number of times the subjects were bullied.  Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in middle age and this group of participants also complained of suffering too much physical pain and high illness susceptibility.               

"Our findings look at the biological consequences of bullying, and by studying a marker of inflammation, provide a potential mechanism for how this social interaction can affect later health functioning. CRP levels are affected by a variety of stressors, including poor nutrition, lack of sleep and infection, but we've found that they are also related to psychosocial factors," said William E. Copeland, study author and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine, in a press release.

"By controlling for participants' pre-existing CRP levels, even before involvement in bullying, we get a clearer understanding of how bullying could change the trajectory of CRP levels."

Furthermore, it was noticed individuals who were bullies in early years had an enhanced social life that was directly related to bringing down worries and stress by lowering CRP levels. Thus, their chances of developing deadly health conditions were very low. Participants who were not bullied and bullies had similar CPR levels.

"Our study found that a child's role in bullying can serve as either a risk or a protective factor for low-grade inflammation. Enhanced social status seems to have a biological advantage. However, there are ways children can experience social success aside from bullying others," adds Copeland.

The authors urge in recognizing bullying as a serious issue to develop methods for early intervention and prevention of inflammation induced diseases and illnesses.

More information is available online in the journal of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.