THREE-QUARTERS OF UK WOMEN WHO WERE BULLIED SAY IT AFFECTED THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE

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The Impact of Bullying Report produced by distance learning provider, Oxford Open Learning Trust reveals that 75% of women who were bullied at school said it affected their self-confidence.

Over 2000 adults took part in the research that looks at the long-term effects of bullying on UK adults.

The research also looked into the issue of cyber bullying.  Learning that over half of 18-24 year olds surveyed said that they have seen other people bullied on social media, and of those polled it was men who have been ridiculed the most on social media platforms.

Julia Jackson, a therapeutic counsellor said: “Adults who were bullied as children can struggle with low self-esteem, have difficulty forming healthy friendships and relationships and be more at risk from suffering with depression and anxiety.

“Childhood bullying can often be dismissed as ‘kids just being kids’ but it’s vital to support children and young people who are being bullied as the effects can be far reaching and long lasting.”

Dr Nick Smith, courses director and founder of Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “The long-lasting impact of bullying can be severe.

“We commissioned the research to learn about the landscape of bullying and how this has impacted on day to day life for adults. Not surprisingly, the long-term effects of bullying can be physical and mental, but also have an impact on education too.”

Anti-Bullying Week is being held between Monday 13th – Friday 19th November. It aims to raise awareness of bullying of children and young people, in schools and elsewhere, and to highlight ways of preventing and responding to it.