Bullying in College Students

Young people in college suffer different kinds of bullying, especially cyberbullying. This type of bullying is rising and causing a significant impact on student’s mental health. It seems like today people have discovered bullying, but Bullying has always been around when people gather.

We define bullying as repeated behavior. It is intentional and involves power. One person or a group uses this power to hurt, intimidate, or control another individual. Bullying has been around since humans have lived in groups. The type of intentional hurting behavior changed as we changed. The way we deal with it is also different. In the nineties, it happened in person, and it was usually physical (fights) or verbal. Bullying can occur in every setting, but until only years ago, there was a break from it. When we went home, home was a “safe place.”

Today, it still happens in person, but what’s new is “the style.” Social media is used and abused for aggression. It moves through Instagram, Snapshot, or any social platform. This phenomenon is called Cyberbullying. The uniqueness of this bullying behavior is that it has no limits it, goes with you. There is no” safe zone.”

We usually think about Bullying as something that affects kids or teens in middle school. Even though these are more vulnerable, they have parents to back them up or can approach a teacher for help. There are some adult oversights. In college young people are on their own.

Bullying in college students has a significant impact on these young adults. College students are shaping their self-esteem and identities. They are also building independence. Peer pressure is significant. Finding a “place” there is hard and that makes them vulnerable to engaging in bullying just to fit in.

At college young people are more on their own, allowing harmful behaviors to escalate unnoticed. Cyberbullying is the way bullies use to harm their victims in college. When underlined, the victimizes will excuse themselves by minimizing the situation calling it just a joke. On the other hand, bullying reporting is difficult, and not frequent due to fear of retaliation. There is no safe place.

Psychological effects of Bullying in college

At this stage of their lives being a victim of bullying can be very harmful to these young adults. The psychological effects still need to be investigated. As for now, we notice that being bullied generates anxiety. It also causes isolation and inadequacy. As a result, academic performance can decrease or even fail. This reinforces the process of feeling inadequate, guilty, and, or devastated. It can lead to depression or even suicidal behaviors.

Counseling services help.

Colleges should raise awareness of this issue and generate reporting mechanisms. Set up support systems. This allows the young person to say what is going on without fear of retaliation or shame. These tools should help the victims feel they are not alone. Colleagues should be encouraged to seek counseling services if necessary.