Recognizing the Signs of Bullying: Identification, Impact, and Intervention

Types of Bullying

Bullying occurs in multiple forms, often intersecting and compounding the victim’s distress. The primary types include:

1. Physical Bullying – Involves hitting, pushing, tripping, spitting, or damaging belongings. This form of bullying is most visible and often coexists with verbal abuse (Modecki et al., 2014).
2. Verbal Bullying – Includes name-calling, insults, threats, or derogatory remarks, often aimed at diminishing self-esteem and social acceptance.
3. Relational (Social) Bullying – Involves manipulating relationships to socially exclude, spread rumors, or sabotage reputations. This is particularly common among adolescents and can lead to severe emotional distress (Craig et al., 2020).
4. Cyberbullying – Occurs in digital spaces, including social media, messaging apps, and online forums. Cyberbullying includes harassment, doxxing, impersonation, and the non-consensual sharing of images, creating a persistent threat beyond school or workplace environments.

Signs That Someone Is Being Bullied

Emotional and Psychological Signs

Victims of bullying often exhibit significant emotional distress, even in the absence of visible physical harm. Symptoms may include chronic anxiety, depressive symptoms, and increased emotional reactivity. 

Mental health professionals should be particularly attentive to expressions of fear or avoidance of certain social settings, as victims may attempt to escape environments where bullying occurs. Reports of feeling powerless, worthless, or excessively self-critical can indicate prolonged exposure to bullying dynamics.

Behavioral and Social Indicators

Bullying victims often demonstrate avoidance behaviors, particularly regarding school, work, or social interactions. Adolescents who experience bullying may frequently skip classes, show a decline in academic performance, or disengage from extracurricular activities. Adults in workplace settings may exhibit absenteeism, sudden resignations, or decreased productivity due to hostile environments (Nielsen et al., 2017).

Other behavioral changes include sudden isolation from peers, reluctance to use digital communication, or increased dependency on caregivers or mentors. Changes in friendship dynamics, particularly unexpected loss of social connections or reluctance to discuss relationships, may indicate relational bullying.

Physical Symptoms and Warning Signs

Psychosomatic symptoms are common among bullying victims, as prolonged stress triggers autonomic nervous system dysregulation. Common complaints include headaches, gastrointestinal distress, sleep disturbances, and muscle tension (Gini & Pozzoli, 2013). Victims may also present with unexplained injuries, torn clothing, or missing personal items, suggesting physical aggression.

Signs of Cyberbullying

Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying leaves no physical evidence, making detection more challenging. Mental health professionals should be aware of sudden changes in online behavior, such as deleting social media accounts, avoiding phone use, or expressing distress after using digital platforms. Victims may also receive an influx of anonymous messages, threats, or explicit content, causing emotional turmoil.

How to Respond to Bullying

Supporting Someone Who Is Being Bullied

Mental health professionals play a critical role in intervention by fostering safe, therapeutic environments where victims feel validated and empowered. Encouraging open communication is essential, as many victims hesitate to disclose their experiences due to shame or fear of retaliation.

Professionals should assess the severity of bullying, provide cognitive-behavioral interventions for emotional regulation, and educate victims on assertiveness strategies. School-based interventions, workplace anti-harassment policies, and legal resources for cyberbullying may be necessary in severe cases.

Preventing Bullying in Schools and Workplaces

Comprehensive anti-bullying programs are crucial for creating safe environments. Schools should implement social emotional learning curricula, promote bystander intervention training, and establish anonymous reporting systems for students. In workplace settings, HR departments must enforce zero tolerance policies, mediation strategies, and leadership accountability to mitigate bullying behaviors.

Recognizing the signs of bullying is paramount for effective intervention and prevention. Bullying manifests in various forms: physical, verbal, relational, and cyberbullying each with unique psychological consequences. Mental health professionals must remain vigilant in identifying the emotional, behavioral, and social indicators of bullying while advocating for systemic policy changes to reduce its prevalence. By fostering awareness, early intervention, and mental health support, professionals can help victims rebuild self-esteem, resilience, and emotional well-being.