Abstract:

Bullying in children represents a serious public health problem, one of three children being bullied worldwide. Bullying is defined as an aggressive behaviour that someone directs against another person, characterized by intentionality, repetitiveness and hurtfulness. There are many types of bullying including direct bullying, indirect bullying, sexual bullying or cyberbullying. According to the etiology of bullying, this is complex and may depend on many factors including social factors, individual factors and also family factors. Bullying has a great impact on children’s health, its consequences including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and nightmares, substance abuse, low school performances and absenteeism, poor relationships with parents and troubles in making or keeping friends. Bullying prevention strategies are designed to help children learn coping skills for emotions’ management, empathy development, built self-esteem and improving social abilities. In order to determine changes in children’s behaviour, it is important that parents and teachers work together.

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