One in seven children ages 6 to 17 in Turkey is subjected to peer bullying, the Karar daily reported on Tuesday, citing a parliamentary subcommittee’s report warning that the issue requires urgent action.
The subcommittee of the Turkish Parliament, set up to examine peer bullying in schools, describes peer bullying as a structural problem that harms children’s academic and psychological development.
According to the report victims may suffer symptoms including depression, sleep disorders, nausea and stomach pain, along with longer-term effects such as loss of self-confidence and declining school performance.
Children who engage in bullying tend to have weaker ties to school, show less interest in the learning environment and perform worse academically. Bystanders, the report said, often fear they could be targeted next and may experience sadness, helplessness or pressure, which can lead to social withdrawal and disengagement from school.
The report defines peer bullying as repeated behavior involving a power imbalance between children, often based on age, physical strength or social status. Verbal bullying includes name-calling, mockery, swearing and humiliating remarks. Social bullying includes exclusion from peer groups, deliberate ignoring and preventing participation in group activities. Physical bullying includes acts such as shoving, pushing and hitting.