Psychologist Tutku Damla Topaloğlu drew attention to 'peer bullying', which both affects students psychologically and can cause problems in their educational life, up to school phobia, in these days when schools start.
Acıbadem Kent Hospital Specialist Clinical Psychologist Tutku Damla Topaloğlu, who stated that peer bullying can confront children in different ways as physical, verbal, emotional, sexual and cyber bullying, warned parents and teachers to be aware of this issue and to observe children well.
From name-calling to threats
Clinical Psychologist Tutku Damla Topaloğlu stated that bullying is defined as 'persistent, damaging or disturbing aggressive behaviors in which there is no equality of power' and said, “Peer bullying is when these aggressive behaviors are carried out by one or more students towards a student or group. Peer bullying can come in many different forms such as physical, verbal, emotional, sexual and cyber bullying. When we say bullying, common attitudes such as mocking physical characteristics, nicknaming, threats, not being invited to social environments, exclusion and being the target of aggressive attitudes through digital media are at the forefront.” “If your child is subjected to bullying, first of all, have information about the source of this situation, listen to your child to understand him/her, and encourage him/her to express his/her feelings,” Topaloğlu said.
“Those who are subjected to bullying avoid disclosing”
Pointing out that the anxiety levels of students exposed to bullying increase, Topaloğlu said, “In addition, thoughts of helplessness or worthlessness develop. Fears that can occur in many areas can be seen frequently,” she said and continued her words as follows:
“Children who are subjected to bullying can often be anxious about telling their teachers or parents about this situation. When families and teachers are able to realize that there is a problem, it is seen that the student is in a process such as a decrease in course success, concentration problems and school refusal. As exposure to peer bullying continues, students may develop school phobia; psychosomatic symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, sweating, trembling, toothache, headache, abdominal pain, inability to leave the toilet and even skin diseases such as eczema can be seen.”
“Families may experience difficulties in this situation”
On the other hand, Topaloğlu stated that parents whose children have been exposed to peer bullying have difficulties in how to behave when faced with this situation and made guiding suggestions to parents. Noting that families should first have information about the source of this situation, Topaloğlu listed his suggestions in items:
“First of all, listen to the child to understand him/her, encourage him/her to express his/her feelings, make sure that you do not give advice and do not make critical and judgmental sentences, let him/her know that he/she can always share these situations with you and his/her teachers, come up with ideas together about what the solution to the ongoing situation can be, discuss the situation with the school administration, the class teacher and the school's guidance department, and if the situation continues, do not hesitate to seek psychiatric and psychologist support for your child.”
Recommendations for educators on peer bullying
Topaloğlu also made the following suggestions on how educators should act in cases of peer bullying that may occur at school:
“The school administration and teachers should first accept that bullying is a serious problem, trainings should be provided for educators on how to deal with the issue, trainings on peer bullying and its consequences should be provided to all students, limits should be set by the administration and teachers against bullying and they should be consistent about the limits.”
Topaloğlu also said that providing trainings to raise awareness of families on this issue is very important for combating peer bullying.
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