Bullies
Nearly Twice as Likely to Have Mental Health Disorder
Mental
disorders plague many adults who were bullied as children, but a new study
suggests that those who had mental health disorders during childhood are three
times more likely to become bullies.
Researchers
at Brown University analyzed survey responses from parents of nearly 64,000
children ages 6 to 17 who were identified as having a mental health disorder,
and those who were identified as bullies.
An
estimated 15 percent of U.S. children in 2007 were identified as bullies by a
parent or guardian, according to the responses, which were part of the 2007
National Survey of Children's Health.
Those
who were considered the bullies were more than twice as likely to experience
depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorder. They were also six times
more likely to be diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, characterized
by ongoing episodes of anger and hostility, especially toward authority
figures, such as parents, teachers or other adults.
"This
study gives us a better understanding of the risk profiles of bullies,"
said Dr. Stefani Hines, director at the center for human development at
Beaumont Children's Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
Hines
was not involved in the study, which was presented Monday at the American
Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting in New Orleans.
The
findings do not surprise many experts, who say the symptoms of these disorders
characterize many bullies.
According
to Alan Hilfer, chief psychologist at Maimonedes Medical Center in Brooklyn,
N.Y., the disorders, such as ADHD, "often lead to impulsive and at times
aggressive behaviors" that are common among bullies.
Bullies
often continue the cycle of social abuse that they have experienced themselves,
he said.
"They
can be depressed, fearful, and they often take out some of their anger and
frustration on others down the pecking order," said Hilfer.
Support
is often given to the bullied peers who are seen as victims, the researchers
said. Many bullies should also be viewed as victims and offered help to change
their behavior, they said.
"This
finding emphasizes the importance of providing psychological support to not
only victims of bullying but bullies as well," the researchers wrote.
The
study did not look at the likelihood that bullies would have a mental health
disorder, only that some children who have a disorder were more likely to be
identified as bullies.
To read the rest of this article, please click on this urlink
