Media Report
AMA asks physicians to help
reduce bullying behavior
June 19, 2002
In an unprecedented report, the AMA House of Delegates this week called
on physicians to help reduce bullying behavior among children by being
heedful for signs that young patients are being bullied and working with
parents, teachers and others to solve the problem.
The delegates adopted a report by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs
(CSA) that reviewed bullying among U.S. children and adolescents. Some
of the recommendations in the CSA report include: that the AMA recognize
bullying as a complex and abusive behavior with potentially serious social
and mental health consequences; that the AMA work with appropriate federal
agencies, medical societies, mental health organizations, schools and youth
organizations in a national campaign to change attitudes about bullying;
and that the AMA urge parents and caretakers to be involved in children's
school and other activities.
"Without intervention, bullying can lead to serious academic, social,
emotional and legal problems," the CSA report states. "Studies of successful
anti-bullying programs are scarce in the U.S. but . adopting a comprehensive
approach in schools can change student behaviors and attitudes and increase
adults' willingness to intervene." The report says physicians
should ask about bullying when young patients have unexplained psychosomatic
and behavioral symptoms, and when patients express thoughts of suicide
or self-harm, or begin using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.
"It is crucial that physicians take a leadership role in helping their
young patients deal with this problem," said AMA Trustee Ronald Davis,
MD. "Too many children are being terrorized at school or on the playground
and remaining silent about it."
AMA Report -
MA - AMA calls on physicians
to help reduce bullying
Report finds young patients often have no one to confide
in when they are being bullied
For immediate release
June 19, 2002
CHICAGO - The American MediCal Association House of Delegates called
on physicians today to help reduce bullying behavior among children by
being vigilant for signs that young patients are being bullied and working
with parents, teachers and others to solve the problem.
The delegates adopted a report by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs
that reviewed bullying among U.S. children and adolescents. It found that
bullies represent 7 to 15 percent of sampled school-age populations and
victims represent about 10 percent. Between 2 and 10 percent of students
are both bullies and victims. In elementary schools, more boys than girls
are involved in bullying; however, the gender difference decreases in junior
high and high school, and social bullying among girls - manipulation done
to harm acceptance into a group - becomes harder to detect.
"Without intervention, bullying can lead to serious academic, social,
emotional and legal problems," the CSA report states. "Studies of successful
anti-bullying programs are scarce in the United States but . adopting a
comprehensive approach in schools can change student behaviors and attitudes
and increase adults' willingness to intervene."
The report defined bullying as behavior that involves a pattern of
repeated aggression, deliberate intent to harm or disturb a victim
despite apparent victim distress and a real or perceived imbalance of power
(e.g., due to age, strength, size) with the more powerful child or group
attacking a physically or psychologically vulnerable victim.
Some of the recommendations in the CSA report include:
-
The AMA recognize bullying as a complex and abusive behavior with potentially
serious social and mental health consequences;
-
The AMA work with appropriate federal agencies, medical societies, mental
health organizations, schools, youth organizations and others ina
national campaign to change attitudes about bullying;
-
The AMA advocate federal support to implement programs that effectively
prevent or reduce bullying; develop clinical tools for identifying
and treating patients traumatized by bullying; and uncover biological
and environmental causes of aggressive and violent behavior;
-
Physicians should enhance their awareness of the social and mental health
consequences of bullying; be vigilant for signs of bullying in young
patients; screen for psychiatric symptoms in at-risk patients; counsel
affected patients and their families; and advocate for programs to
treat
perpetrators and victims of bullying;
-
The AMA urge parents and caretakers to be involved in children's school
and other activities. Parents and caretakers also should be encouraged
to build supportive home environments, as well as teach children how to
interact socially, resolve conflicts, deal with frustration and cope with
anger and stress.
The report notes that bullying often is hidden from adults who might intervene
because children, afraid that bullies will intensify the abuse, often
remain silent. Children need to be educated about the importance of
reporting bullying, and parents, teachers and health care professionals
need to become better at identifying current or potential victims. The
report says physicians should ask about bullying when young patients have
unexplained psychosomatic and behavioral symptoms, and when patients express
thoughts
of suicide or self-harm , or begin using tobacco, alcohol or other
drugs.
"It is crucial that physicians take a leadership role in helping their
young patients deal with this problem," said AMA Trustee
Ronald
Davis, MD, a public health physician in East Lansing, Mich.
"Too many children are being terrorized at school or on
the playground and remaining silent about it."
The CSA report was based on extracted and analyzed data published from
1985
to 2002 in several databases, journal articles, reports and textbooks.
Additional information was gleaned from federal agencies, medical specialty
societies, mental health and other professional organizations, and recognized
researchers in the field.
For more information or a copy of the CSA report, please contact:
Brian Pace
AMA Media Relations
