Bullying Among Teens During COVID-19: A Three-Year Snapshot

Bullying has long been recognized as a serious problem for teenagers. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was already a significant public health issue in Brazil. But how did the pandemic and the measures taken to control it affect bullying behavior? Not much was known about this until recently. To find out, researchers studied bullying behavior over three years, from the start of the pandemic to the present. They wondered if lockdowns, school closures, and social distancing would change how teens treated each other. Or if bullying would increase due to the stress and isolation of the pandemic. The study used two methods to get their data. They looked at data from online surveys filled out by teens (repeated cross-sectional analysis). They also followed a group of teens over time to see how bullying behaviors changed (prospective analysis).The findings showed that bullying didn't disappear during the pandemic. Instead, it took different forms. For example, cyberbullying increased as teens spent more time online. This could be due to the isolation and loneliness many felt during lockdowns. However, some forms of bullying decreased. This might be because schools were closed, and teens had less direct contact with each other. But the overall change in bullying behavior wasn't clear-cut. It depended on the situation and the individual teen. The study also highlighted the importance of supporting teens during difficult times. It showed that bullying can adapt to changes, like the ones brought on by the pandemic. This means that interventions to stop bullying need to be flexible and consider new forms of bullying. In the end, the pandemic didn't make bullying go away. It changed how bullying happened. This study helps us understand these changes and how to better support teens in the future.