If My Child Is Being Bullied At School, Is He/She More Likely To Develop An Anxiety Disorder Later In Life?

Dr. Hartstein answers the question: 'Bullying And Anxiety Disorder Risk?'

ByABC News
April 15, 2008, 5:32 PM

— -- Question: If my child is being bullied at school, is he/she more likely to develop an anxiety disorder later in life?

Answer: There has been some research linking anxiety disorders and bullying. The question is really: is the anxiety disorder there first or there later? So, some kids that are victims do develop some anxiety symptoms. And those can present themselves on an ongoing way as that victim persona keeps to perpetuate itself.

So the bullying can link to the anxiety. It's a question of did the anxiety come first or the bullying cause the anxiety? But the fact is the anxiety will be there over time and it needs to be addressed so that that victim role doesn't continue to happen over time.

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