Relational Aggression - Consequences of Victimization

Consequences of Victimization

There are serious negative consequences associated with being involved in any aggressive behaviors. And while problems with peers might be a result of one’s poor social skills and maladjustment, difficulty making friends, and regular experience of aggression can also be a cause of many short and long term negative consequences on one’s mental health and academic and professional achievements. Experience of relational aggression, peer rejection, and unpopularity are shown to be linked to various problems in adolescence, which are listed below:

• depression
• behavior problems;
• poor social skills;
• lack of close peer relationships;
• difficulties in academic performance;
• low school engagement;
• undermined feelings of competence;
• low self-esteem
• occasionally distress due to victimization can also result in physical symptoms such as wetting, abdominal pain, or/and headaches.

Some negative effects persist into adulthood. In a longitudinal study, Dan Olweus (2003) found that young adults, who were victims of bullying in adolescence, had more symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem than did their non-victimized peers. Victims are also much more likely to engage in heavy smoking later in life. Decreased academic engagement due to victimization can have some long term consequences as victim's lower educational attainment in adulthood leads to lower earnings.