School Bullying and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents

While the investigation of school bullying is a relatively recent phenomenon in Taiwan, it has been thoroughly investigated in several countries. Scandinavian countries initiated the early research regarding school bullying [1] and researchers from other countries followed their lead. Unfortunately, the attention to the issue of school bullying often follows the misery happened. For example, the horrendous shootings at Columbine High School in 1999 have fueled a national concern over peer-bullying and victimization [2]. Students involved in school shootings have been characterized as chronic bullying victims who in turn have victimized their peers [3]. Researchers studying school associated violent deaths between 1994 and 1999 found that homicide perpetrators were more likely than their victims to have been bullied at school [4]. Bullying and being victimized by bullies have been recognized as health problems for school children and adolescents because of their association with a range of adjustment problems, including poor mental health and violent behavior Bullying is a malicious aggressive behavior that is intended to harm others repeatedly. There is an imbalance in strength or power between the bullies and the victims of bullying. Studies in European countries and U.S. suggest that 20% to 30% of students are frequently involved in bullying as bullies and/or victims. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have recognized bullying and being victimized by bullies as health problems for school children and adolescents because of their association with a range of adjustment problems, including poor mental health and violent behavior. Bully-victims, who are involved in both bullying others and being bullied by others, have the greatest number of mental and behavioral problems. Children needing special health care are especially vulnerable to being bullied. The signifi cant association between involvement in bullying and adverse mental health in children and adolescents indicates that the early identifi cation of and intervention on children and adolescents at risk should be a priority for the society. School Bullying and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents