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social exclusion by peers as painful as getting ’punched or slapped every day’; study

isolating victims by leaving them out of group activities and spreading harmful rumours about them has become one of the most common form of bullying.

by dave yasvinski

aug 30 2022

3 minute read

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is social exclusion a harmful form of bullying?

a form of indirect or relational aggression has become a significantly common form of bullying. getty

a new study is casting a harsh light on social exclusion, a form of bullying that isolates victims by omitting them from group activities and spreading harmful rumours about them.

according to research, published in the journal preventing school failure: alternative education for children and youth, this form of indirect or relational aggression has become a significantly common form of bullying.

“previous studies suggest when a kid is excluded from social activities by their peers at school, the outcomes for that kid both short-term and long-term will be just as detrimental as if they got kicked, punched or slapped every day,” said chad rose, an associate professor at the university of missouri’s college of education and human development and director of the mizzou ed bully prevention lab.

“this study sheds light on the social exclusion youth often face.”

in canada, bullying remains a concern. the country ranked tenth in the number of 11-year-olds who had been bullied at last twice a month, eighth for 13-year-olds, and seventh for 15-year-olds, according to the 2017/2018 health behaviour in school-aged children survey in europe and canada.

social exclusion difficult to address

the team based its findings on a survey that was sent to 26 middle and high schools in the southeastern u.s. as part of a wider school climate assessment. all told, more than 14,000 students were asked to agree or disagree with a series of statements related to perceived popularity, bullying and relational aggression. sample statements included: a little teasing does not hurt anyone; i don’t care what mean things kids say as long as it’s not about me; in my group of friends, i am usually the one who makes decisions; and when i am mad at someone, i get back at them by not letting them be in my group anymore.

“what we found is kids that perceive themselves as socially dominant or popular endorse pro-bullying attitudes, yet they don’t perceive themselves as engaging in relational aggression,” rose said. “there was another group that did not perceive themselves as socially dominant or popular but they endorsed pro-bullying attitudes and engaged in relational aggression …[they] may have been excluding others as an attempt to jockey for the position of being more socially dominant and climb the social hierarchy.”

but researchers also identified a third group of students — known as non-aggressors or bystanders — who reported low levels of relational aggression and pro-bullying attitudes.

“what’s interesting about bystanders is that they often perpetuate bullying, meaning they serve as social reinforcers and are around when it’s happening,” rose said. “… if we see two kids in a physical fight, we feel an obligation to break it up. but when we see kids being excluded by their peers, adults don’t always seem to view it as equally damaging and that’s the scary part.”

praise inclusivity, individuality

according to researchers, the best way for teachers and parents to assist youth who may be at risk of being bullied is by appreciating the things that make them unique. “when kids are in school, sameness often gets celebrated, but when kids grow up to become adults, individuality is what makes us stand out and excel in our jobs and in life,” rose said.

“individuality should be interwoven in some of the messages we as adults send in our schools, in our families and in our neighbourhoods.”

the government of canada recommends that adults in care of children or adolescents should pay attention to social dynamics and separate those who have negative interactions with each other. avoiding situations where there is a potential for victimization (for example picking sports teams or groups partners) should also be avoided.

teachers can also help by making social communication a big part of their curriculum and rewarding students who behave in ways that are inclusive of others.

“in addition to establishing academic objectives for group projects, teachers can monitor how well the students are inviting the input of others’ ideas through positive, encouraging conversations,” rose said. “teachers should give specific praise when they see respectful and inclusive behaviour in action, because teaching and reinforcing these skills are just as important as the math, science and history lessons.”

dave yasvinski is a writer with  healthing.ca

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dave yasvinski

social exclusion by peers as painful as getting ’punched or slapped every day’; study

isolating victims by leaving them out of group activities and spreading harmful rumours about them has become one of the most common form of bullying.

social exclusion difficult to address

one benefit of pandemic schooling was bullying decrease: study

bullying is an 'epidemic' for kids with disabilities

praise inclusivity, individuality

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social exclusion by peers as painful as getting ’punched or slapped every day’; study

isolating victims by leaving them out of group activities and spreading harmful rumours about them has become one of the most common form of bullying.

social exclusion difficult to address

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