Freedom from bullying

Once young girls have become victims of bullying, it can be difficult for them to escape from the role of victim. That's the key finding to emerge from a study published in the December 2, 2008, edition of the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.
The team of researchers at UK's Warwick University and University of Hertfordshire found that girls who experienced bullying at the age of six were two-and-a-half more likely to still be being bullied at age eleven, as compared to their male counterparts.
The researchers also considered who is at risk of becoming a victim in the first place. One of the key red flags, they discovered, is a physical or emotional health problem. Girls who exhibit signs of physical and emotional health problems face a higher-than-average risk of being bullied and of remaining a victim. The researchers stressed that it is important for parents, teachers, and health professionals to be alert to the signs that a girl is struggling physically or emotionally.
Once a girl has been labelled a victim, it may be difficult for her to escape that role on her own. School-based intervention programs designed to help young victims of bullying to escape further victimization are critical, according to the authors of this study. Without the benefit of such programs, a young girl who as bullied may get stuck in the role of victim, both in her own eyes and in the eyes of her peers.
Resources: Prevnet.ca: PrevNet.ca is a network of Canadian researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),  and governments working together to promote safe and healthy in relationships. See the Resources section for research summaries and toolkits.

• Ann Douglas is the author of numerous books about pregnancy and parenting, including The Mother of All Parenting Books. Catch up with her at www.motherofallblogs.com.