Impact of Bullying on Young Adults

Introduction

Bullying and mal treatment in case of young adults become important global issues as well as severe public concern. Any kind of physical as well as emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negative behaviour of peers, family members or society can lead to severe mental trauma as well as psychological distress among the young adults. Exposure to bullying and maltreatment can lead to potential harm to the normal physical as well as mental growth, survival, decision-making ability and problem-solving skill of young adults. This assignment is going to review the primary research article about the impact of bullying on the mental health of young adults: "Adult mental health consequences of peer bullying and maltreatment in childhood: two cohorts in two countries. The Lancet Psychiatry”

Rationale:

The rationale behind choosing the aforementioned primary research article is to get the authentic as well as justified database regarding the impact of bullying on the mental health of young adult. This paper represents the information based on personal experience of the participants who are selected randomly from two cohorts. Moreover, the paper also represents the possible outcomes of the bullying in school as well as society regarding not only the mental health but al physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of children. Therefore, this article s seemed to be relevant to meet the criteria of the following research question.

Research question:

What is the impact of impact of bullying on the mental health of young adults?

Research question is important in order to analyse the changes in the mental behaviour of young adults due to experiencing bullying and maltreatment by their society. Bullying is systematic abuse by showing repeated physical as well as psychological aggression that not only affects the psychological health but also the decision-making ability as well as problem-solving skill of young adults. By reviewing the literature and using CASP tool to analyse the content, it is possible to answer the research question, which is important to highlight the harmful effete of bullying on the psychological development of the young adults. Therefore meeting the criteria of this research question, this assignment is going to represent the mental as well as behavioural status of bullied adults and the viable ways that can be used to eliminate the effect of bullying and maltreatment.

Literature review:

Victims of bullying as well maltreatment often endure the repeated exposure to the intentional negative physical and psychological violence by one or more individual, especially when there is inequality in power among them. In the selected article, researcher has collected primary database from two cohorts of children from two different countries to analyse the mental health consequences of peer bullying as well as maltreatment in young children (Lereya et al. 2015). This primary research is based on the interpretation that, being treated negatively or bullied by their peers in childhood, young adult experience long-term mental health disorders such as mental trauma, anxiety, depression, lack of self-confidence and even dementia. On the contrary, Baldwin et al. (2016) argued that bullying could be referred to as the interpersonal aggression that has different forms and several functions. The authors further stated that bullying in case of young adults is manifested in different patterns of the relationships. Based on this viewpoint Dale et al. (2014) stated that bullying is not only the dyadic problem between the bullied and victim, rather it can be referred as the group of phenomena occurring the social context. The selected article has highlighted the effect of bullying n the childhood on the personal, professional behaviour, mental status and physical expression of young adults. By reviewing the literature of the selected primary article, it can be stated that primary outcomes of the bullying and maltreatment in the case of young adults are anxiety, self-harm, depression, autism and suicidality. On discussing the cumulative risk effect of bullying as well as taunting behaviour on young adults and children with autism, Hebron et al. (2017) stated that children with autism are more prevalent to bullying than their peers. Different studies have focused on the fact that likelihood of children of being bullied increases the chances of exposure of children into different factors such as behavioural difficulties, abnormal psychological as well as physical activities and poor peer relationships. Moreover, the authors’ further state that, young children with autism spectrum condition (ASC) is recognised as the particular group of people who are more likely prevalent to bullying as well as different behavioural risk factors. In the selected article, Lereya et al. (2015), has shown that, among children that are selected from the two cohorts, only bullied and maltreated children have higher the of mental disorder such as autism, dementia, depression, anxiety and psychiatric disease. However, this selected research article also shows that children who are only maltreated but nit bullied are less likely to prevalent to mental disorders than the bullied as well as maltreated children. On supporting the viewpoint, Swearer and Hymel (2015) stated that there is strong association between the bullying and mental health. The author further stated that children, who are exposed to the long-term bullied condition, have faced severe mental disorder at their young age. On the contrary, Evans-Lacko et al (2017) argued that, though there is some evidence on close relationship between the autism and bullying, other social, psychical, biological and emotional factors are also associated with the development of ASC moreover, the author also criticises the interpretation of selected primary article regarding the fact that, bullying and maltreatment are not the similar aspects. Bullying is strongly associated with mental disorder, on the other hand, the effect of mal treatment on the physical as well as the psychological health of young children less severe than bullying. By opposing this criticism, Lereya et al. (2015) argued that the article has highlighted the proper differentiation between bullied children and maltreated children. Moreover, the selected article also shows that bullied children are more likely prevalent to different psychological disorder in comparison to maltreated children.

In this aspect Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) can be an important heuristic theme for analysing eth complexity of the bully g behaviour. According to Hebron et al. (2017), social nature of involvement in case of bullied children is completely different from that of eth normal children. Moreover, bullying can be heralded as the social-relationship problem that affects the interplay between the victim and his or her surrounding environment. The selected article has however failed to represent the impact of bullying on the social interaction of young adults. On the other hand, the selected article represents binary logistic analysis that proves that, mental health is associated with surrounding environment and attitude as well as approach of the surrounding people. As stated by Mishna et al. (2016), Theory of Mind can be applied in demonstrating the adolescent involvement with bullying. In the selected article, Lereya et al. (2015) adolescent bullies and bully-victims score owner on Theory of Mind scale than the controlled group that has not experience any kind of bullying or maltreatment. Children, who score poor in the ToM scale, are more likely prevalent to the mental illness such as dementia, autism and depression. Based on the Psychodynamic Theory, it can be stated that, bullying in the young children can affect their psychology and mental strength. It is important for the children to have proper mental as well as emotional support to make positive reinforcement. Selected article highlights the fact that, bullying affects the decision-making ability and problem solving skill of young adults. In this aspect, Arseneault (2018) states that, there is persistent and pervasive effect of bullying on the mental health of children. The author stated that, through bullying people do things repeatedly as well as deliberately that hurt and annoy the young children. On supporting the viewpoint, Weiss et al. (2015) stated that, being bullied by peers or society at the early childhood age, young children can face severe psychological distress. Psychiatric disturbances has close alliance with the surrounding environment as well as childhood experience of the children. As stated by Sigurdson et al. (2015), if children who face the negative environment and bullying during the early childhood age, can feel alone, unsafe, insecure, neglected and depressed. Though the selected article focuses only on the effect of bullying and maltreatment on psychological activity and mental status of adult children, to highlights the strong association of emotional, physical and mental health. N the primary research article, database selected from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and Great Smoky Mountains Study show that bullying not only includes the repeated physical and mental abuse but also the maladaptive parenting that damage the psychological strength of the people. Psychological assessment of children from both cohorts, has pointed out the actual relationship between the surrounding environment as well as social intervention with the mental stability of the children. In this selected article Lereya et al. (2015) has shown that the severity of psychological damage is based on the time duration in which the children are being bullied. If maltreatment and bully occur in parallel manner in school, society and home, adult children are more affected than the children whom are victims of the maltreatment. In this aspect, Dale et al. (2014) stated that effective care and support against the childhood bullying is important for increasing the public health concern. Moreover, this research paper also considers the importance of parents, educators and health professionals in raising eth social concern against the childhood bullying. People need to know about the risk factors that are associated with bullying and maltreatment such as depression, anxiety, dementia, behavioural disorder and autism. Cumulating as well as effective approaches needs to be taking for effectively recognise as well as manage the health of bullied adults. As stead by Zeedyk et al. (2014), bullying is associated with the intentional and repeated physical and psychological aggression that damage the decision-making ability, problem-solving skill and the remembering ability of the young children. This paper criticises the selected primary research, which highlights the fact that maltreatment and social bully in the surrounding environment affect the mental stability, rather representing the interplay between the surrounding environment and victim. As stated by Hebron et al. (2017) bullying is one of the systematic abuses that affect the psychological as well as mental strength of the adult children. Based on this aspect, the selected primary research paper has focused on the outcomes of bullying on the young adult. Children bullying is one of eth important problem that not only affects their mental health also damages there behavioural expression. Decision-making ability, as well as the problem-solving approach of young adult, is associated with their thinking ability, analysing power and self-confidence. Selected article has focused lights on the fact that how children psychology interacts with their surrounding environment. On supporting the viewpoint of the selected primary article Arseneault (2018), stated that bullying could be considered as potential mental as well as physical abuse that causes the psychological distress to young children. In the UK, over 16,000 young children with age group 12-15, are absent from school due to bully from their peer. Experience of the chronic bullying lasts for six months that not only affects the mental health but also damages the behavioural as well as emotional wellbeing. As stated by Hebron (2017), long-term social consequences of bullying can pose lifetime impact on the young adult. For example, the childhood experience of being bullied or maltreated can affect the social relationship, professional activities, educational ability and mental consequences of individual. The selected primary article focuses on the fact that, childhood bullying is a social concern that is not restricted n the school environment but also in the community-based environment. With the advent of different social networking sites and the ubiquitous nature of the mobile phone, young children can face public humiliation at any time as well as any place that affects their soft emotions and mental strength. On contrary Evans-Lacko et al (2017) argued that the study sometimes bullying is associated with activity of surrounding people and family members that hurt most the young adults. Moreover, humiliation and repeated abuse by society as well as parents destroy the positive and optimistic approach of the young people. Recent psychological researches show that young adult is more emotional than other age group. Therefore, the public humiliation and repeated abuse through social media can easily lead t severe psychological distress among them. Therefore, the review of the literature in analysing the content of selected primary research article focuses on the fact that, there is clear associated between the mental distresses and bullying. It has been sourced by various pieces of literature that, young adults facing repeated psychological as well as physical aggression are more likely to experience different mental disturbances such as anxiety, dementia, autism, depression and lack of self-confidence.

Critical appraisal:

For critical appraising the selected piece of research, this assignment is going to use the CASP tool (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme). CASP Tool assists individual to analyse as well as evaluate the research evidence in order to get in-depth knowledge about the different information described in the research content. In the case of the aforementioned research paper, CASP Tool would be highly effective n terms of making critical appraisal of different types of evidence

Appraising the primary research paper: (Using CASP Cohort Study Checklist)

Selected research paper:

“Lereya, S.T., Copeland, W.E., Costello, E.J. and Wolke, D., 2015. Adult mental health consequences of peer bullying and maltreatment in childhood: two cohorts in two countries. The Lancet Psychiatry, 2(6), pp.524-531”

Critical appraisal of research evidence:

1. Addressing clear focused issues:

The selected research paper has addressed the clear focused issues, which is mental health consequences of young adults who have experience bully as well as maltreatment. This study has clearly highlighted the selected population or cohort such as Great Smoky Mountains Study in the USA (GSMS) longitudinal studied and Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in the UK (ALSPAC). Moreover, the research has clearly demonstrated the different risk factors that are associated with the mental health of young adults such as poor relationship with parents, ill-treatment from teachers and peers and lack of expressions. By also the content of this research paper, it is clear that this study successfully detects the harmful effects of Bullying. If outcomes are considered, it is clear that this research is successful in addressing the actual issues as well as remedy regarding the research questions. Moreover, it is also able to highlight the populations (cohort) and their personal experience. Through representing the statistical database that collected from the children and parents, this study is able to address the actual focus area of this research s that learner can easily find out the motif of conducting this research. Therefore, it can be stated that this research study is able to meet this first criterion of CASP Cohort Checklist

2. Recruitment of cohort in acceptable way:

Selection process of two cohorts in this study is based on fare as well as bias-free framework. This study does not make any selection bias, which can compromise with the generalisability of the findings. The selection of participants from the each cohort is authentic as well as free from any partiality or discrimination. Cohort represents of both the population are given the same opportunity as well as time to express their viewpoints. In conducting this research researcher has both the representatives of GSMS and ALSPAC are taken to make proper mental health assessment without showing any gender bias or sexual discrimination. For identifying the association between the bully, maltreatment and mental health researcher has assessed the bullying and maltreatment with the child and parent interview. Total 4026 children from ALSPAC cohort and 1420 children from GSMS cohort have provided the information regarding bullying, mental disturbances and victimization. Though not every representative of the two cohorts in this study provides the information regarding the research questions, it does not affect the reliability, authenticity and generalisability of the findings. Therefore, it can be stated that this research paper successfully meets the second criterion of the CASP Cohort Checklist. Thus, the selection process of each cohort in this research is acceptable.

3. Measurement of exposure accurately in minimum bias:

In this research paper, representatives of the two cohorts have taken part in the assessment of their mental health as well as experience throughout the cohort study researcher has asses the bullying and maltreatment with the children and parent interview to come up with proper findings. This research has used objective cohort measures for collective statistical database directly from the cohort representatives regarding the different mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, self-harm and sociality. For using minimum bias, researchers have evaluated the validity and reliability of all statistical information before using them in statistical chart. Objects that are selected in this cohort study are classifieds into two categories such as maltreatment and bullied, or both or none and maltreatment vs being bullied. All the subjects that are selected in cohort studies such as anxiety, depression, suicidality and self-harm are equally applied into all the exposure groups in this study for having the minimum bias. Therefore, the selected research paper has met the third criteria of the CASP Tool Cohort Check List.

4. The accuracy of outcome in measuring the minimum bias:

This research paper has used objective measurement, which demonstrates the actual outcomes of bullying and maltreatment. Through using this objective measurement researcher have compared the statistical database collected from cohort representatives in order to get the authentic and bias-free findings. These measurements truly reflect on the relevant answers that assist researchers to meet research questions and rationale. Therefore, the measurement process that this study has used is valid and accurate. For the two cohorts, the measurement process is similar which is used to compare the database from the representatives of these two cohorts. The objective measurement process is used to avoid any kind of bias and relevancy of the database. Therefore, this research paper is successfully meet the fourth criteria of the CASP Tool Cohort Check List. Looking for further insights on XBRL: A Global Financial Reporting Standard? Click here.

5. a) Author identifies the important factors:

In this research paper, author has identified different important factors such as mental health, associated factors affecting mental health, bullying, maltreatment and relationship between the bullying and mental disorders. Moreover, author also has demonstrated some associated factors that are the reason behind mental disorders such as poor relationship with peers, parents and society members. Though this research is able to find out the focus area of this research, it is unable to shed light on the interrelationship between the young adults and its surrounding environment. Bullying and maltreatment are the examples of negative environmental factors, which affect the mental stability, and well-being of children. Here the author is failed to focus on the fact that, how the environment surrounds the children has changed with bullying and maltreatment and the effect of changing environment ion children psychology.

b) Confounding factors design and analysis:

In this research, a researcher has applied the stratified regression process in order to shortlist the huge database that is collected from the representatives of two cohorts. Through this process, researchers are able to get the accurate and authentic database. Moreover, in this study, for the two particular study designs have been used for cohort such as Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in the UK and Great Smoky Mountains Study in the USA. Through these two studies researcher is able to get expected outcomes that assist them to meet the research questions. From the aforementioned approval, it can be stated that this research is able to meet the fish criteria of CASP cohort Checklist.

6. Completing enough the follow up subjects:

The researcher in this selected research paper is able to find out the speciality about the outcomes from the different cohort. Such as for the representatives of the two cohorts, some representatives face both the maltreatment and bully and some face only mal treatment. This research shows fact that, representatives of the two cohorts, who experience both the maltreatment and bullying are highly prevalent to the mental health problems in comparison to them who face only maltreatment. However, researcher are failed to determine any specialty about outcomes of people leaving or entering the cohort. However, this research paper highlights the individual characteristics of each cohort in order to provide proper understanding about the types as well as size of the target population. Therefore, this research paper is able to meet the six criteria of CASP Cohort Check list.

7. Result of the study:

The bottom line result of this selected research papers clearly demonstrates the increased mental health risk of young adults due to experience the repeated physical and psychological aggression. Moreover, this research paper also determines different adult mental health risk in bullied children such as anxiety, self-harm, depression, aggression, mental trauma and suicidality. Moreover, this research has clearly demonstrated the outcomes of the ALSPAC cohort analysis, which focuses on poor relationship between the maltreatment and adverse mental health condition. Moreover, it also focuses on the fact that maltreatment is related to the increased risk of the depression. Moreover, this research paper also represents the ratio between the exposed and unexposed respondents. This selected paper clearly interprets that mental health assessment of the representatives focuses on strong association between the bullying and mental disturbances. Therefore, it can be stated that this research paper is able to meet this seventh criterion of the CASP Tool checklist.

8. Validity of the results:

Researcher has used the relevant range of Confidence Interval to analyse the authenticity as well as relevancy of the outcomes. By using the e relevant comparison of eth database collected from the representatives of the two cohort, the research papers has maintained the accuracy of the information in order to meet the research objectives.

9. Believing the results:

The bottom line results or interpretation of this research is highly accurate and valid that can be applied n the future researches for eth further study on mental health. Moreover, researchers avoid all kind of bias and irrelevance in order to conduct the cohort study. Both the cohort representatives are provided with equal opportunities to eliminate the chances of bias and discrimination. Moreover, researcher has also used the accurate range of confidence intervals to evaluate the validity as well as authenticity of the collected information. The research paper interprets the strong alliance between bully, maltreatment and the mental disorder. The research design and methodology are highly relevant as well as accurate in order to get the expected outcome that has assisted the researchers to meet the research objectives. Therefore, the result and interpretation of this research paper is highly trustworthy. Thus, this research paper meets the ninth criteria of CASP Cohort Tool Check List.

10. Possibility of applying the result of this research paper on the local population:

Cohort study in this selected research paper has been proved appropriate method to meet the research questions. This study interprets the fact that bullying affects the mental health of the young adults. Moreover, it also focuses on the bottom-line result that, maltreatment and bully are associated with depression, but bullying is one of the main reasons in leading to the mental disturbance and different mental trauma. This result can be applied in case of mental health patient such as dementia patient, children with mental trauma and autism, in which health professional can use the interpretation of this research paper to treat these mental disorders. Moreover, the result regarding the effect of maltreatment and bullying on the behavioural, psychological and emotional changes in young adults can be applied in psychological as well as physical handicapped children to offer appropriate therapeutic treatment foe them.

11. Whether this study fits with other available evidence:

This cohort study is critically analysed by different authors regarding evaluating its validity and application. By analysing all these sources, it can be stated that, various evidences support the selected research. Contemporary research papers are also used in the literature review part to analyse the relevance of this research paper to fit with the other evidence. The outcomes stated that, though this research papers has negligible flaw, overall it is able to highlight the actual issue that meet the research objectives. Therefore, it is able to meet the criteria of CASP Checklist.

12. Implication of the study for practice;

This research paper has provided highly robust evidence that is enough to recommend appropriate changes within the clinical practice as well as health policy design. Moreover, the results of this research paper would provide proper assistance to health professional in order to provide the effective treatment to the children with mental illness.

Conclusion:

Aforementioned discussion concludes that, the selected research paper is able to answer the question that whether the bullying has negative impact on the mental health in young adults. Moreover, it concludes that maltreatment is also associated with the negative behavioural changes and mental damage. However, the research interprets the fact, that children who have experienced both the bully and maltreatment are more prevalent to mental health disorder. By critically appraising the research study with use of CASP tool, it can concluded that, this research is able to meet all the criteria of the CASP checklist. Moreover selected research is helpful in order to offer the valid interpretation as well as results that can be applied in clinical practice and healthcare policies.

Reference list:

Arseneault, L., 2018. Annual Research Review: The persistent and pervasive impact of being bullied in childhood and adolescence: implications for policy and practice. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 59(4), pp.405-421.

Baldwin, J.R., Arseneault, L., Odgers, C., Belsky, D.W., Matthews, T., Ambler, A., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E. and Danese, A., 2016. Childhood Bullying Victimization and Subsequent Overweight in Young Adulthood: A Cohort Study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 78(9), p.1094.

Evans-Lacko, S., Takizawa, R., Brimblecombe, N., King, D., Knapp, M., Maughan, B. and Arseneault, L., 2017. Childhood bullying victimization is associated with use of mental health services over five decades: a longitudinal nationally representative cohort study. Psychological medicine, 47(1), pp.127-135.

Mishna, F., McInroy, L.B., Lacombe-Duncan, A., Bhole, P., Van Wert, M., Schwan, K., Birze, A., Daciuk, J., Beran, T., Craig, W. and Pepler, D.J., 2016. Prevalence, motivations, and social, mental health and health consequences of cyberbullying among school-aged children and youth: protocol of a longitudinal and multi-perspective mixed method study. JMIR research protocols, 5(2).

Sigurdson, J.F., Undheim, A.M., Wallander, J.L., Lydersen, S. and Sund, A.M., 2015. The long-term effects of being bullied or a bully in adolescence on externalizing and internalizing mental health problems in adulthood. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 9(1), p.42.

Weiss, J.A., Cappadocia, M.C., Tint, A. and Pepler, D., 2015. Bullying victimization, parenting stress, and anxiety among adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism research, 8(6), pp.727-737.

Zeedyk, S.M., Rodriguez, G., Tipton, L.A., Baker, B.L. and Blacher, J., 2014. Bullying of youth with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or typical development: Victim and parent perspectives. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(9), pp.1173-1183.