New research by Wesley Mission shows that a staggering 85 per cent of the community reports that schoolyard bullying had affected the way they had developed as adults.
Of more concern, the research shows that one in five adults surveyed said that bullying had a pure negative impact on their adult lives. Wesley Mission has found that the bullying experience has led to other issues such as substance abuse, regular sick leave, and in some cases ongoing need for psychiatric services and counselling.
These findings and the broader impact school bullying has on society – at both a social and economic level – clearly demonstrates the need for the issue to be given greater focus and support by the government and the wider community.
Dr Moyes was part of the recent Upper House inquiry into Bullying of Children and Young People. This inquiry was a positive first step towards tackling this complex issue. As the Committee Chair stated in the report, “School communities must receive more support and guidance if schools are to develop and implement successful, evidence-based responses to bullying and cyber bullying. The Committee does not believe that cyber bullying is simply a technical issue, but is instead a reflection of the broader social behaviours apparent in all forms of bullying.”
The latest Wesley Report “Give kids A chance: No one deserves to be left out” differs from much of the previous research on bullying as it looks at the long-term effects of bullying in adult life. It shows the damaging consequences of bullying, with victims reporting significant levels of withdrawal and isolation which inhibit their social skills development and lead to insecurity even in adult life.
In this report, Wesley Mission has emphasised that peer abuse is a complex personal, familial, education and social problem. As a result, bullying is not just a consideration for schools or parents; ending peer abuse is everyone’s responsibility. The major findings of the report found that:
- More than four-fifths of respondents (85 per cent) reported that the school-time bullying experience had affected the way they had developed as adults.
- Seven in ten adults said that the bullying experience had some form of negative impact.
- Pack bullying occurred mainly in high school and happened more frequently than bullying by individuals.
- Pack bullying went on for longer than bullying by individuals.
- Female victims (85 per cent) reported more emotional bullying than males (77 per cent).
- Victims were only willing to report emotional bullying when aggressive activities occurred or they were excluded from group activities lasted for a long time (58 per cent and 54 per cent respectively).
- Low self-esteem and lack of assertiveness were listed as the primary negative effects in adult life. This was followed by difficulties in building relationships of trust. Other problems included aggression and difficulty in controlling anger.
- Most victims in the sample seemed to be only willing to report emotional bullying when it persisted more than “often”. This is a disturbing result as it implied that victims were willing to put up with being ignored, teased and taunted.
The policy recommendations that came out of the report include the following:
- Stronger and more collaborative partnerships between the community services/welfare sector and local schools. Schools should have access to community-based welfare workers who work in partnership with schools by providing specialist support.
- Improved identification of bullying, with specific questions built into routine existing assessments of children by teachers and medical/social services providers and in teacher-parent contact.
- More programs to build up social skills in children in the early years.
- A clear line-of-sight reporting regime in schools from the first report of bullying to the resolution of the problem.
- Accredited anti-bullying and resilience programs at primary and secondary schools with emphasis on transition points at the start of the primary and secondary school where childhood vulnerabilities are high, within an unambiguous culture of respect.
- The introduction of funding for children suffering from any form of abuse, including bullying, so that they can rely on extra support in school.
- The expansion of extended and tailored family therapy programs so that parents learn to recognise when children are involved in bullying and can be taught to build up the key social skills that can defeat bullying.
- Support programs for adults who are suffering from the effects of childhood bullying such as unresolved problems of guilt, distrust and aggression.
Dr Moyes, along with other Family First members of Parliament in other states, is working very hard to campaign and educate the government, schools, and civil society about this growing problem. Family First calls on both the Commonwealth and State Governments to implement a whole of community and integrated approach to preventing and addressing bullying in our society.
Dr Moyes concluded, “Families are the lifeblood of our communities. We must take responsibility for what is going on in our schools, church and communities. Schools, the government and the community sector must work in tandem to address this serious social issue. Each one of us has a responsibility in contributing to breaking the bullying cycle experienced by our young people. Each child deserves the opportunity to reach their potential and to lead a fulfilling life.”