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Students who experienced more bullying in ninth grade saw their future expectations drop by nearly eight percentage points. (Representative/file photo)
Adolescents who reported being bullied more frequently by peers in ninth grade subsequently reported lower expectations about their future educational and career prospects by 11th grade.
The effects of bullying on the mental health of teenagers are well documented. But can bullying also shape their future aspirations? Our latest research shows that teens who are bullied in ninth grade become more pessimistic about their educational and career prospects after high school. In particular, being bullied increases the risk of depression in teens, causing them to feel hopeless about the future.
As a developmental psychologist who studies adolescent well-being, I am drawn to better understanding the long-term effects of bullying on adolescents’ future expectations. My research team recruited 388 high school students who had recently started ninth grade. We asked them to complete surveys every several months for three consecutive years.
Adolescents who reported being bullied more frequently by peers in ninth grade subsequently reported lower expectations about their future educational and career prospects by 11th grade. That is, bullied teens felt less confident in their ability to achieve their desired level of education, find enjoyable work, and earn enough money to support themselves after high school.
Students who experienced more bullying in ninth grade saw their future expectations drop by about eight percentage points compared to peers who were not bullied. This decline remains significant even after taking into account factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and prior expectations for educational attainment.
Interestingly, one type of bullying had a particularly negative impact. Adolescents who experienced various forms of peer victimization, including ostracism – being intentionally ignored or excluded from group activities – or who experienced loss of social relationships, fared the worst. But teens who were the targets of direct harassment – such as hitting and kicking or threatening and direct name calling – did not report lower expectations for the future.
Why does bullying, which affects adolescents’ relationships and social standing, reduce adolescents’ optimism for future success? We found that depression plays a role. Adolescents who experienced this type of bullying in ninth grade showed more depressive symptoms by 10th grade. Having more depressive symptoms in 10th grade was associated with lower expectations for the future one year later. Given that peers become increasingly important in adolescence, bullying that directly damages these relationships appears to be particularly lethal.
Why it matters Previous research shows that teens with negative future expectations are less likely to attend college and secure high-level jobs in adulthood. Our findings suggest that bullying early in high school may begin a cycle of depression and despair about later educational and career prospects. Investing in proven strategies to prevent bullying, such as programs that promote bystander intervention and provide targeted support for victims, has already been shown to improve young people’s health and help break the cycle. Can help too.
What’s Next We plan to conduct additional surveys with the youth who participated in our research as they transitioned to college and the workforce in the coming years. We hope to identify the best ways to intervene to prevent bullying and its effects. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all teens feel confident in their ability to thrive as adults.
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