Within all
previous blogs, I have talked about the negative effects of bullying.
Interestingly, I have not spent much time talking about the positive
effects of bullying or of the benefits bullies gain from bullying
others. Below you will find a news article which reveals that bullying
might actually lead bullies to lead healthier lives. Without a doubt the
brain is a unique and interesting organ, could it be that human nature
actually benefits from causing harm to others. Although it might be the
case, as the article points out, it is not an excuse for allowing
bullying to occur.
Study Finds Health Benefits of Bullying
Bullying is a national problem and one that
some of our nation's kids have unfortunately learned about the hard
way. We've long heard that the emotional effects of bullying can last
with kids long after, but a new study suggests it may also affect health
in a surprising way.
This new study is so
fascinating because it shows health problems can show up in those
bullied long after the incident, but interestingly enough, the new study
also shows that bullying may make the bully healthier.
The study was just published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Researchers found that those who bullied saw a health boost that lasted long into adulthood.
People
who were bullies showed lower levels of something called c-reactive
protein, which is a marker for inflammation and could mean a reduced
risk of cancer and heart disease.
The
researchers say this shows the powerful role that social status and
bullying can have in the health of a child and they say the results
suggest that their role in bullying can either become a risk or
protective health factor.
Of course, no one's
advocating that children start bullying to reap these health benefits
later but the researchers say it is certainly an interesting connection.
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