Victimization of Teenagers by Bullying

Do you work with teenagers as part of your clinical practice? If so, you will want to read a recently published data brief by Haile and colleagues (2024). These authors used data from the July 2021–December 2023 National Health Interview Survey–Teen to determine the percentage of those aged 12-17 years who had experienced bullying in the past year.

Haile and colleagues reported that 34 percent of teens reported having experienced bullying. These authors found that the percentage of those who were bullied varied significantly based on a variety of demographic factors including age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, having a developmental disability, and identifying as a sexual or gender minority. The percentage of teens who reported symptoms of anxiety and depression were significantly higher in teens who reported being bullied than those who were not.

The American Academy of Audiology scope of practice (2023) supports counseling related to the social-emotional well-being status in personal, social, educational, and vocational arenas. Audiologists may be the first professionals to provide the much-needed support, empathy, and necessary referrals for teens with hearing loss who experience bullying. For those interested in learning more about bullying, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides resources.

References

American Academy of Audiology. (2023) Scope of practice. (accessed November 6, 2024).

Haile G, Arockiaraj B, Zablotsky B, Ng AE. (2024) Bullying victimization among teenagers: United States, July 2021–December 2023. NCHS Data Brief 514.