Long-term consequences of bullying in schools

Abstract

En los últimos años parece haber un incremento en los datos respecto al acoso y ciberacoso escolar y más concretamente, respecto a las consecuencias para las personas implicadas (acosador, víctima y testigos). De entre esos estudios, destacar el realizado por la UNESCO (2019) que reveló que 1 de cada 3 estudiantes de todo el mundo declaró haber sufrido acoso en los últimos meses. Comprender estas consecuencias físicas, psicológicas y sociales a largo plazo, resulta imprescindible para entender el verdadero impacto para las víctimas de acoso escolar. Por ello, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio con 78 participantes aleatorios ( 40 que han sufrido acoso escolar y 38 que no lo han sufrido) con edades comprendidas entre los 20 y los 40 años. Se les ha evaluado ciertas variables socio-emocionales junto con otras como son el rendimiento durante su etapa escolar, su salud, el sentimiento de felicidad, o trastornos asociados, con el objetivo de comprender las diferencias psicosociales que se dan actualmente entre los participantes que han sufrido acoso durante su etapa escolar y los que no. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos, corroborando la hipótesis de que el grupo de personas que ha sufrido acoso en la escuela ha tenido peor rendimiento durante su etapa escolar y tienen actualmente más dificultades a la hora de entablar relaciones sociales y peores respuestas emocionales, con un mayor riesgo de suicidio frente a las personas que no han sufrido acoso escolar, que aunque también presentan ciertas complicaciones en algunas de las variables, en todos los casos se da en menor medida que el grupo acosado.

In recent years there seems to be an increase in data regarding bullying and cyberbullying at school and more specifically, regarding the consequences for the people involved (bully, victim and witnesses). Among these studies, the one conducted by UNESCO (2019) stands out, since it proves that 1 in 3 students worldwide reported having suffered bullying in the last few months. Understanding these long-term physical, psychological and social consequences is essential to understand the true impact on the victims of bullying. Therefore, a study was conducted with 78 randomized participants (40 who had been bullied and 38 who had not) between the ages of 20 and 40. Certain socio-emotional variables were evaluated along with others, such as performance during their school years, health, feelings of happiness, or associated disorders. The aim was to understand the psychosocial differences that currently exist between participants who have suffered bullying during their school years and those who have not. The results show significant differences between the two groups, corroborating the hypothesis that the group of people who have been bullied at school have had worse performance during their school years. Additionally, they are having more difficulties in establishing social relationships, worse emotional responses, and a higher risk of suicide in comparison to people who have not been bullied, who although they might experience complications in some of the variables, in all cases it occurs to a lesser extent than the bullied group.