The dangers of bullying at home trigger schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as adults

You may be more familiar with cases bullying in schools or other educational institutions. However, bullying it can also happen at home between siblings. Bullying siblings are not just delinquency or quarrels that are common among younger siblings at home. Bullying is a form of bullying that uses verbal or physical violence, threats, or coercion to intimidate others. In action bullying , there is an intention and a plan to cause pain and discomfort to the victim, both physical and emotional.

Bullying occurs when there is a power imbalance, which can also occur in sibling relationships. People who have been bully in childhood are reported to be more prone to mental problems as an adult. This is the danger bullying at home that every parent needs to watch out for more.

Dangers of bullying between siblings: trigger mental breakdown in the future of children

A study recently conducted by the University of Warwick reports on the dangers of bullying by siblings in the family. Researchers found that bullying by a sibling to a younger sibling or vice versa can trigger the development of psychotic disorders by up to three times when the victim grows up.

The study, led by Professor Dieter Wolke from the Department of Psychology, was conducted on approximately 3,600 children aged 12 years by answering a detailed questionnaire about bullying typical of bullying that occurs at home. The results of the study found that as many as 664 teenagers were victims of bullying from their siblings, while 486 of them were perpetrators of bullying against their siblings, and the remaining 771 were victims and also perpetrators of bullying.

Six years later, after they turned 18, these children were asked to undergo a clinical examination to assess their predisposition to psychotic symptoms. The results of questionnaires and medical examinations show that children who engage in bullying at home with siblings - either as perpetrators, victims, or both - are more susceptible to psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, than children. others who don't experience bullying at home.

Some children who are victims of bullying from their siblings are also prone to experiencing emotional problems from an early age. In fact, they will tend to give up easily, always feel lonely, depressed, and isolated.

The dangers of bullying at home can also have an impact on their academic abilities at school

According to Slava Dantchen, who is one of the researchers, if bullying also occurs at school, the child's risk of experiencing psychotic disorders will be much higher because they feel they no longer have a safe place.

In addition, the effects of bullying can have a real impact on children's health. Children who are bullied have a threefold risk of experiencing recurrent headaches and difficulty sleeping. Furthermore, children who are both bullies and bullies have a sixfold chance of bedwetting, four times the chance of having a bad appetite, and three times the chance of developing stomach aches.

In the future, sustained psychological and physical stress is not unlikely to cause his academic performance to decline drastically.

In short, the existence of problems with a child's social relationships - whether with friends or relatives - can be an early sign of developing physical and mental disorders later in life.

So, what should be done to find out about bullying between siblings?

Whoever is involved, regardless of location, how, and whenever it happens, bullying should not be underestimated, let alone completely ignored. As a parent, you are in charge of being the main mediator for any actions taken by your children, including violence against their own siblings.

Competition between siblings is normal. However, quoted from Very Well Family, you have to really recognize which competition is healthy and which has the potential to trigger violence. Healthy competition can be seen when the actions of one child become a reference for the sibling to be better. However, when competition turns into repeated acts of bullying, harassment, and violence, both physically and verbally, this is the sign that this behavior is no longer normal. Especially if it is to isolate and alienate the victim.

Although it may be difficult to mediate between siblings, do it as early as possible with the right steps to avoid it becoming an act bullying at home. Early on, teach your children how to solve good problems. Teach and also ask them to treat fellow brothers with courtesy and respect.

If children are never taught how to cooperate and solve problems, then they may resort to wrong actions to get what they want.

Remember, the home should be a safe place with the same treatment for everyone in the family. Of course, the goal is that all family members - especially children - always feel loved, needed, and treated with special care.