Prepared by: Professor Dr. Thanaa Bahaa El-Din Abdullah<br /><br /><br />Bullying, whether verbal, physical, or online, is one of the most prominent social challenges facing adolescents in the modern era. Bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior intended to intentionally harm the victim, with a power imbalance between the bully and the victim. According to a UNICEF report (2021), one in three adolescents worldwide is bullied at school or online.<br />Reasons why adolescents are bullied:<br />1. Social or physical differences: Appearance, economic status, or ethnicity may be a reason for victims to be targeted. A study conducted by UNESCO (2020) indicates that 40% of bullying cases in schools are linked to racial or cultural discrimination.<br />2. Family and school environment: Research from the American Psychological Association (APA, 2019) showed that adolescents living in permissive or violent families are more likely to become victims or bullies, due to their lack of learning healthy communication skills. Furthermore, the absence of strict anti-bullying policies in schools increases its prevalence.<br />3. Cyberbullying: With the proliferation of social media, online bullying has become a growing threat. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center (2022), 28% of American adolescents have been insulted or threatened via digital platforms.<br />4. The desire to achieve social dominance: Some bullies seek to enhance their status among peers by insulting others, especially in environments that lack a culture of empathy.<br />Effects of bullying on adolescents:<br />- Psychological effects: such as increased rates of Anxiety, depression, and social isolation. A previous study in JAMA Pediatrics (2021) found that victims of bullying are (3) times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts than others. They also experience low self-esteem and a persistent sense of fear.<br />- Academic effects: such as decreased academic achievement due to avoiding school or difficulty concentrating.<br />- Long-term consequences: These effects may persist into adulthood, such as difficulty building relationships or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020).<br />- How to confront bullying:<br />1. The role of the family: This can be achieved by encouraging open dialogue with children to identify signs of bullying early. In addition, adolescents should be taught self-defense skills without resorting to violence.<br />2. Strengthening the role of schools: This can be achieved by implementing preventative programs such as the Finnish KiVa program, which succeeded in reducing bullying cases by 80% by teaching students empathy and effective intervention methods, as confirmed by UNESCO (2018). This can also be achieved by providing awareness sessions on respecting differences.<br />3. Strict legislation: This can be achieved by enacting laws criminalizing cyberbullying, as countries such as France and Canada have done.<br />4. Psychological support: This can be achieved by providing individual and group psychological counseling sessions in schools for both victims and bullies, to address the root causes.<br />In conclusion: Bullying is not just a "children's fight," but a serious phenomenon that threatens the mental health of societies. Combating it requires cooperation between governments, schools, and families, with a focus on building safe environments that promote human values ​​such as empathy and respect for others.<br />Sources:<br />1. UNICEF (2021). Global Report on Bullying in Schools.<br />2. UNESCO (2021). (2020). Bullying and Discrimination in Educational Settings.<br />3. American Psychological Association (APA). (2019). Bullying: Psychological and Social Causes.<br />4. Cyberbullying Research Center. (2022). Digital Bullying Statistics.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />( ALMUSTAQBAL University is the first university in Iraq )