By Dr. Natalie Weder, MD, Child Psychiatrist Child Mind Institute

For National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month we’re sharing some tips on how aunts can help protect middle school nieces and nephews against bullying.
 
Going to middle school is not just about learning math, science or literature. Tweens and teens also need to learn to choose, have and keep relationships, tolerate frustration, learn to disagree and solve interpersonal conflict. Relationships during this developmental phase can also be quite intense and volatile. In addition, social aggression, such as bullying, can have a destructive impact on a child’s development and self-esteem.

Middle school children are at the highest risk of being victims of bullying. Up to a fourth of middle school children have been categorized as victims of bullying, and both victims of bullying and bullies themselves are at higher risk of seriously considering suicide or hurting themselves (McKenna, MMWR 2009).

Victims of bullying do not always report the abuse for fear of retaliation or further victimization. That is why it is so important to be on the lookout for any changes in your nephew’s or niece’s behavior that could suggest that he or she is being victimized. Children exposed to bullying can exhibit social difficulties, anxiety, sadness, irritability, suicidal thoughts, eating problems and physical complaints, such as headaches, fatigue or abdominal pain (Sansone, 2008). A drastic change in your niece’s or nephew’s mood should be explored.

In addition, there are certain factors that place children at higher risk of bullying; victims of bullying are more commonly exposed to violent family encounters, and use alcohol and drugs more often when compared with children who have never been exposed to bullying (McKenna, MMWR 2009). However, having a close relationship to one’s caregivers, and feeling loved or cared for by friends and non-parental adults has shown to be helpful (Borowsky, 2013).

So, how can you help as an aunt?

1. Talk frequently and regularly to your nephews and nieces.
2. Look for unexplained changes in behavior.
3. Join their online social networks and check them regularly.
4. Know their friends and notice if there are any changes in their social routines or networks.
5. Talk to them about bullying, and empower them to be assertive and to get involved in speaking up against it.

Natalie Weder, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with extensive experience diagnosing and treating the full range of psychiatric disorders. She is an expert in the areas of risk, resilience, and mood and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. She has published in the most scientifically respected journals, including Biological Psychiatry and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, where she serves as a contributing editor. In addition she has co-edited two books: Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry and Clinical Assessments in Psychiatry.

Published: October 29, 2013