Teens Bullied In High School Can Feel Less Optimistic About The Future
Being bullied in high school can make teens less optimistic about the future.
The effects of bullying on teens’ mental health are well-documented. But could bullying also shape their future aspirations?
Our latest research reveals that teens who are bullied in ninth grade become more pessimistic about their educational and career prospects beyond high school. Specifically, being bullied increases teens’ risk for depression, which leaves them feeling hopeless about the future.
As a developmental psychologist who studies adolescent well-being, I set out to better understand the long-term effects of bullying on teens’ expectations for the future. My research team recruited 388 high schoolers who had recently started ninth grade. We asked them to complete surveys every several months for ...