The Tentacles of Bullying: The Impact of Negative Childhood Peer Relationships on Adult Professional and Educational Choices
Keywords:
bullying, negative childhood, peer relationships, professional, education, choicesAbstract
Being victimized by a bully in childhood has many potential effects on facets of adult life. This study attempted to examine whether being bullied in childhood has had an impact on the employment and post-secondary educational choices of the participants. Brief interviews and a resiliency inventory were administered in this regard. It was discovered that most of the participants who were bullied chose their occupations because of an interest in their
field or a desire to assist others, rather than making their choices for financial reasons, or for reasons of familial pressure. In addition, participants who had
an elevated number of conditions that foster resiliency in their environment had diminished manifestations of the bullying on their future educational and
occupational selections. In fact, all of the participants had elevated resiliency levels, all were employed, and most were currently pursuing a profession or educational endeavor for which they were passionate. Consequently, it was recommended that bullying intervention stratagems should endeavor to produce academic environmental conditions that are positive despite the varied familial environment of the students. These programs should also promote a constructive learning environment.
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