In recent years, reports of student bullying cases in the media have sparked heated debate in our society.

This extensive coverage has not only raised public awareness of this serious issue but also galvanised collective efforts to find effective solutions to combat bullying.

Bullying is a form of physical, social or mental abuse that can occur anywhere, from homes to schools. With technology at our fingertips, bullying no longer takes place only face-to-face.

Cyberbullying has emerged as a new and equally damaging threat. Regardless of the type, bullying often leaves long-lasting psychological scars.

Bullying and mental health risks

Research in Asia and Europe shows that bullying among students is a significant risk factor for depression and anxiety later in life.

Hostile interpersonal styles and low self-esteem are mediating factors for these disorders.

Chronic bullying can push victims to become more aggressive in defending themselves. Prolonged exposure also creates feelings of insecurity, loss of trust, and heightened suspicion towards bullies and even peers.

Low self-esteem makes victims feel inferior and socially unsupported, reducing their ability to cope with stress. This, in turn, can fuel persistent uncertainty and fears about the future.

Without intervention, anxiety disorders may develop. Moreover, repeated bullying can foster negative self-perceptions and feelings of hopelessness, which heighten the risk of depression.

How the brain processes emotions in bullying victims

While strategies to stop bullying are crucial, it is equally important to understand its psychological consequences. Knowing how mental health problems such as depression and anxiety develop can guide better prevention and support.

One striking finding is that bullying victims process emotions and attention differently compared to bullies.

They are more sensitive to negative social cues, such as crying or expressions of pain. Victims also pay more attention persistently to negative images than bullies do, suggesting they are constantly on high alert for potential threats. Alarmingly, they may even misinterpret neutral situations as threatening.

The amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure in the brain crucial for processing emotions, particularly negative ones, plays a key role here.

Continuous overactivation of the amygdala in bullying victims may explain their heightened anxiety and hypervigilance.

Another important aspect is ‘mentalisation’, the ability to understand one’s own mental state and that of others, allowing a clearer grasp of underlying intentions and feelings.

Studies have shown that bullying victims struggle to interpret emotions such as anger and happiness as mental states. Instead, they often perceive anger and happiness as purely physical actions or behaviours, reflecting impaired social cognition.

Another finding showed that bullying victims used more words associated with happiness and anger compared to bullies when asked about their personal experiences related to these emotions, suggesting greater sensitivity to emotional cues.

Interestingly, victims also used more happiness-related words compared to those who were neither classified as bullies nor victims, which may reflect a coping mechanism of masking negative feelings by overemphasising positive ones.

Conclusion

Bullying profoundly impacts how the developing brain processes emotions and attention in school-aged children.

If left unaddressed, victims are at significantly higher risk of developing mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Protecting children from bullying, therefore, is not only about preventing abuse in the present but also safeguarding their mental well-being and resilience for the future.

-- BERNAMA

Dr Fitri Fareez Ramli is a lecturer and researcher in pharmacology at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, specialising in neuropsychopharmacology and emotional processing in mood disorders.