Pepler Debra J, German Jennifer, Craig Wendy, Yamada Samantha
MSc, PhD, is scientific co-director of PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network), Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at York University and senior adjunct scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Ontario.
BSc, MD, practices family medicine in Toronto.
Healthc Q. 2011;14 Spec No 2:72-9. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2011.22366.
In this article, the authors review research to identify bullying as a critical public health issue for Canada. Drawing from recent World Health Organization surveys, they examine the prevalence of Canadian children and youth involved in bullying others or being victimized. There is a strong association between involvement in bullying and health problems for children who bully, those who are victimized and those involved in both bullying and being victimized. Health problems can manifest as physical complaints (e.g., headaches), mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety) and psychosocial problems (e.g., substance use, crime). In Canada, there has recently been a disturbing incidence of Canadian children who have committed suicide as a result of prolonged victimization by peers. Healthcare professionals play a major role in protecting and promoting the health and well-being of Canadian children and youth. Given the significant mental and physical health problems associated with involvement in bullying, it is important that clinicians, especially primary care healthcare professionals, be able to identify signs and symptoms of such involvement. Healthcare professionals can play an essential role supporting children and their parents and advocating for the safety and protection for those at risk. By understanding bullying as a destructive relationship problem that significantly impacts physical and mental health, healthcare professionals can play a major role in promoting healthy relationships and healthy development for all Canadian children and youth. This review provides an overview of the nature of bullying and the physical and psychological health problems associated with involvement in bullying. The review is followed by a discussion of the implications for health professionals and a protocol for assessing the potential link between bullying and a child's physical and psychological symptoms.
在本文中，作者回顾了相关研究，以确定欺凌行为是加拿大一个关键的公共卫生问题。他们借鉴世界卫生组织最近的调查，研究了参与欺凌他人或成为受害者的加拿大儿童和青少年的比例。对于欺凌者、受害者以及既是欺凌者又是受害者的儿童来说，参与欺凌行为与健康问题之间存在着紧密的联系。健康问题可能表现为身体不适（如头痛）、心理健康问题（如抑郁、焦虑）以及社会心理问题（如药物滥用、犯罪）。在加拿大，最近出现了令人不安的情况，一些儿童因长期遭受同龄人欺凌而自杀。医疗保健专业人员在保护和促进加拿大儿童和青少年的健康与福祉方面发挥着重要作用。鉴于与参与欺凌行为相关的重大身心健康问题，临床医生，尤其是初级保健医疗保健专业人员，能够识别此类参与行为的迹象和症状非常重要。医疗保健专业人员可以在支持儿童及其父母以及倡导保护处于危险中的儿童的安全方面发挥至关重要的作用。通过将欺凌行为理解为一个严重影响身心健康的破坏性人际关系问题，医疗保健专业人员可以在促进所有加拿大儿童和青少年的健康人际关系和健康发展方面发挥重要作用。本综述概述了欺凌行为的本质以及与参与欺凌行为相关的身心健康问题。综述之后讨论了对健康专业人员的影响以及评估欺凌行为与儿童身体和心理症状之间潜在联系的方案。
