1. Introduction to the topic
Bullying and social exclusion can have detrimental effects on individuals' mental health. These forms of mistreatment may lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, shame, isolation, and self-doubt, among others.
Some groups are more likely to experience them than others due to their identity or characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. In particular, queer adolescents often face bullying and social rejection for being different from what is considered "normal" in society. This leads to long-term psychological challenges that affect their wellbeing and development. Therefore, it is essential to study which types of bullying and social exclusion most predict these outcomes to create effective interventions and support systems.
2. Bullying and its impact on mental health
Bullying is an intentional act of aggression towards another person through verbal, physical, or emotional means. It can happen at school, work, home, online, or anywhere else where people interact. Bullying can take various forms, including teasing, taunting, mocking, insulting, threatening, intimidating, and hitting. The victim usually experiences fear, anger, embarrassment, frustration, and humiliation because they feel powerless and helpless. They may develop low self-esteem, lack confidence, and become socially isolated. According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 20% of students between 12 and 18 years old reported experiencing bullying at least once a month during the previous year.
3. Social exclusion and its impact on mental health
Social exclusion refers to the process of intentionally leaving someone out of a group, activity, or event. It involves isolating them from others, ignoring their presence, rejecting their opinions, or making them feel unwelcome. Social exclusion often occurs due to prejudices such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic status. Queer adolescents are more likely to experience this form of mistreatment than heterosexual ones because society views homosexuality as unnatural or abnormal. This leads to feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, shame, guilt, and hopelessness. A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that queer youth had higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to heterosexuals.
4. Predictors of long-term psychological challenges
Several factors predict long-term psychological challenges in queer adolescents who have experienced bullying or social rejection. The first is frequency and severity of the incidents. Bullying and social exclusion can be one-time events or prolonged processes. When they occur frequently and intensely, they may lead to chronic stress and trauma. Another factor is the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator. If the aggressor is close to the victim, such as a family member, friend, or classmate, it can cause more distress than strangers.
The context also plays a role.
Cyberbullying via social media can be more harmful than face-to-face bullying because it reaches a wider audience and remains online forever.
5. Conclusions and recommendations
Bullying and social exclusion are serious forms of mistreatment that affect individuals' mental health. Queer adolescents are particularly vulnerable due to their sexual orientation. It is crucial to identify which types of bullying and social exclusion most predict long-term psychological challenges so that effective interventions and support systems can be created. This article has presented the topic's introduction, impact on mental health, predictors of outcomes, and conclusions based on empirical evidence. Future research should continue to investigate these issues to improve the wellbeing of queer youth worldwide.
Which forms of bullying or social exclusion are most predictive of long-term psychological challenges in queer adolescents?
The types of bullying or social exclusion that have been found to be most predictive of long-term psychological challenges in queer adolescents include verbal harassment (e. g. , name-calling), physical attacks, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and exclusion from social groups and activities.