Research on Mental Health and PTSD Status of Bystanders in School Bullying
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62051/jedss.v1n4.05Keywords:
School bullying, Bystander, Mental health, PTSD, Anxiety, TraumaAbstract
This paper investigates the mental health status and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-related symptoms in bystanders of school bullying. Although most research on bullying has focused on the victims and offenders, some new studies have begun to show that students who are witnesses of bullying are also prone to anxiety, depression and other trauma-related psychological problems. These psychological difficulties may stem from fear of becoming the next victim, guilt over being unable to intervene, emotional contagion, and repeated exposure to a hostile school environment. Based on empirical studies and conceptual reviews, the four groups identified are positive bystanders, negative bystanders, co-victims, and isolated witnesses, and they are not all subjected to bullying in the same way. Therefore, the school's policy for dealing with anti-bullying should focus on the mental health of bystanders rather than treating them as passive observers.
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