43% Of Bullied Elementary-Age Children Report Elevated Trauma Symptoms

Among elementary-age children in third, fourth, or fifth grades who had experienced bullying, about 43% reported elevated trauma symptoms, such as avoidance and negative self-perception, according to a recent study. The trauma symptoms persisted for an average of 6.5 months after the events. About 90% of children in the study experienced at least one event of peer victimization during the early part of the school year.

Peer victimization was defined as including a range of experiences such as teasing, exclusion, threats, being the target of rumors, or being targeted online. Bullying was defined as more severe and . . .