Eyeglasses allow children with vision problems to learn, develop and play safely and comfortably. Unfortunately, children don’t always accept differences among their peers, and those who wear glasses are more likely to be targeted by bullies.
According to a study from the Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, preadolescent children who wear glasses or eyepatches were 35%-37% more likely to be bullied than other kids. These numbers were consistent regardless of the children’s gender or social class.
Being bullied can have a significant negative impact on a child’s life that continues into adulthood. This is especially troubling for vulnerable groups like children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who are at greater risk for visual problems than the general population.
By recognizing the full impact of this issue, and taking steps to promote an inclusive environment in schools, we can help protect children with vision problems from bullies and ensure they lead happier, healthier lives.
How bullying impacts children
Unsurprisingly, being bullied can have a profoundly negative impact on a child’s mental and physical health. In the short term, kids may experience physical injuries and emotional distress. Over time, bullying can lead to self-harm and even death.
From a clinical perspective, being bullied can increase the risk of depression, anxiety and sleeping troubles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, students who are bullied may not perform as well in school, and are more likely to drop out.
Bullying is defined as “mean, hurtful behavior that occurs repeatedly in a relationship with an imbalance of power or strength”. Within this broad definition, different forms of bullying can take place, some of which may be more subtle than others. The most prevalent types of bullying include:
- Verbal bullying: This may include ongoing name-calling, threats, or other types of disrespectful comments about the victim’s attributes (four-eyes, etc.).
- Physical bullying: This may involve hitting, tripping, shoving, or touching the victim in other unwanted ways.
- Relational bullying: This usually involves exclusionary tactics designed to alienate a student or group of students. Examples of relational bullying may include not allowing a child to sit at a certain lunch table or participate in schoolyard games.
- Cyberbullying: This involves sharing hurtful comments or rumors about someone via text messages, messaging apps, or social media platforms.
If it’s not properly addressed, bullying of any kind can lead to serious issues for both the victims and the bullies themselves. While preventing bullying before it starts is the ideal scenario, identifying the problem early can help minimize the potential impacts on a child’s health and well-being.
Signs of bullying to look for
In many cases, children who are bullied may try to keep their problems to themselves at first. Coming to an adult about bullying can be an uncomfortable proposition for children, especially if they’re feeling shameful, and anxiety about the situation may deter them from seeking help promptly.
Adults can make the process easier on children by looking for signs of bullying, and approaching them about it in a respectful and understanding way. Some of the most apparent signs of bullying may include:
- Physical injuries: Injuries are often the most obvious sign of physical bullying. These may include unexplained cuts, bruises, or scratches that frequently appear after school.
- Depression and anxiety: As mentioned, bullying of all types can lead to depression and anxiety in children. The most common indicators of depression and anxiety related to bullying are long-lasting mood changes (the child seems more sad, angry, moody, or agitated) that may be more apparent immediately after school or extracurricular activities.
- Low self-esteem: Bullying may cause children to feel less confident. This may manifest through self-critical comments and comparing themselves with their peers in a negative way. They may avoid trying new things, and show a distinct lack of pride in their own achievements.
- Interpersonal struggles: Relationship difficulties are another possible indicator of bullying. Victims of bullying may begin neglecting their friendships, avoiding social situations, and spending more time alone than usual.
- Poor performance in school: In addition to declining grades, bullied students may display a more negative attitude toward their schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
If you begin noticing signs of bullying in your child, address the issue in the right way. If you’re unsure exactly how to handle the situation, a counselor or staff member from your child’s school may be able to provide you with helpful advice for discussing the issue, and suggest healthy tactics for improving self-esteem and overcoming bullies.
The long-term impact of bullying on self-esteem, confidence and mental health
Bullying doesn’t just make school an unpleasant experience for children. If the problem isn’t properly addressed, it can have significant long-term effects on mental health and self-esteem that impact victims well into their adult lives.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine (NLM), Children and adolescents who have been bullied are consistently found to be at higher risk for depression and anxiety disorder once they reach young adulthood and middle adulthood. Bullying victims are also more likely to contemplate, attempt and complete suicide as adults.
Additionally, the damaging effects of bullying on confidence and self-esteem can directly impact the victim’s future professional success. The same NLM study found that people who experienced childhood bullying had lower educational qualifications, poorer financial management skills and lower-paying jobs than their peers later in life — even at age 50.
Addressing unhealthy attitudes and perceptions of glasses
To understand why children with glasses are targeted by bullies, it’s important to consider the cultural and societal stigma surrounding glasses themselves, and recognize how this stigma can subconsciously impact our perceptions of others.
Research conducted by the Swiss Journal of Psychology has shown that people who wear glasses are likely to be perceived as more intelligent and less attractive than those who don’t. These effects serve to reinforce the schoolyard stereotype that glasses wearers are ‘nerdy’.
Unfortunately, the fear of being stereotyped for wearing glasses may deter some children from seeking proper vision care, especially if they haven’t been educated on the importance of eye health.
Children with vision issues may be able to wear glasses more confidently if they and their classmates understand the role of corrective lenses in supporting healthy eyes. In fact, vision health education was found to have positive effects on vision knowledge and eyeglasses usage among primary school students.
How can we help students with glasses overcome stigma?
As we gain a better understanding of the stigma facing students with glasses, we are also learning more about how to help children and adolescents overcome these challenges, prevent bullying, and promote better eye health among youth.
Because bullying and stereotypes can impact students in all areas of life, there are several important steps that parents, educators, healthcare providers, and community members can take to combat glasses stigma.
The role of parents
Getting used to wearing glasses at school can be difficult for students of all ages, but parents can make the experience easier by providing support and setting a positive example at home:
- Positive Affirmation: If your child is getting glasses for the first time, offering them support in the form of positive affirmation can help promote confidence and counteract the effects of negative stereotypes. For example, complementing the way the glasses match their clothes, and emphasizing the ways that their glasses improve their vision, such as praising their ability to notice new details in their surroundings.
- Modeling: Parents can also use modeling to help improve their child’s attitude toward wearing glasses. If you or another member of your family wears glasses, demonstrating how much they help you, and how comfortable you are wearing them, can give your child more confidence in themself and alleviate feelings of alienation.
If you don’t wear glasses, simply pointing out examples of other people who wear glasses, and acknowledging their positive qualities, can also help your child feel less alone. These examples may include extended family members, friends, or famous people on TV.
As your child gets used to wearing glasses at school, you should always keep an eye out for the signs of bullying. Demonstrate an interest in their social experiences while reassuring them of your support. This can help make it easier for your child to come forward about any bullying they may be experiencing.
The role of educators
Educators and school officials are often the first line of defense against bullying, which can be a challenging position to occupy. It’s critical for students to feel protected in school, and this cannot be achieved if bullying and harassment are allowed to continue.
To create a safe and supportive academic environment, schools must set and enforce comprehensive rules for student conduct that cover all forms of harassment; including verbal attacks, physical attacks and exclusion. Violations of these rules should always be taken seriously, and handled in a way that’s respectful of the victim.
Unfortunately, bullying can sometimes occur under the radar of school officials. To help minimize this risk, administrators should make sure that there is consistent adult supervision in locations where bullying may take place, such as hallways, cafeterias and playgrounds.
Teachers and other school staff members should be well-educated about the signs of bullying and the correct protocols for handling bullying incidents. Additionally, any staffers who work with bullying victims should thoroughly understand the impact of glasses stigma, and make resources about this issue available to students.
Schools can spread awareness beyond the classroom by providing students and their families with resources about bullying identification and prevention. This can help ensure that more parents have the right information on hand when they need it.
The role of medical professionals
The medical community is a hugely important part of the fight against glasses stigma and bullying. Different types of healthcare providers can help children adjust to glasses and deal with bullies in different ways.
Eye doctors and their staff can make the diagnostic process easier by providing positive reinforcement, emphasizing the benefits of wearing glasses, being receptive to questions and encouraging children to help pick out their own frames. This can help alleviate anxiety and give them a sense of confidence and control.
Mental health care professionals are also a valuable resource for children and adolescents dealing with glasses-related stigma and/or bullying. Therapists and counselors who specialize in bullying can help students contextualize their social experiences, process their feelings, and develop positive coping mechanisms.
The role of the community
Because bullying can affect people’s lives in such serious, lasting ways, it can adversely impact the health and well-being of entire communities. As such, community members should recognize the importance of bullying awareness and prevention, and use their influence to further the cause whenever possible.
Some examples of this may include advocating for the creation of bullying-awareness campaigns, or the implementation of violence-prevention programs in local schools. If they’re well-supported, initiatives like these can be highly effective, and serve to benefit whole communities in substantial ways.
Congressional research has shown that the adoption of anti-bullying initiatives can reduce the frequency of bullying incidents by up to 23%. Over time, this can lead to a decrease in the number of people dealing with the mental and physical health issues associated with bullying.
Additional resources
In addition to consulting with guidance counselors and healthcare professionals, students and their families can access a wealth of information about bullying online. There are several different resources where you can learn more about bullying prevention and find hands-on support for bullying victims:
- Stopbullying.gov: Government website containing guides and links to other resources about bullying awareness and prevention
- AACAP resource center: Bullying information website sponsored by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Here, you can find articles, videos, and research and training tools focused on bullying awareness and prevention.
- STOMP Out Bullying: National nonprofit group devoted to preventing bullying and promoting inclusion. You can find resources such as articles, videos and interactive helplines.
- NAPAB: The National Association of People Against Bullying is another nonprofit foundation that provides anti-bullying education, services and support to educators and families.
- Common Sense Media’s cyberbullying topic center: Information hub with a wide variety of articles about cyberbullying prevention and awareness.
By spreading awareness of this struggle, parents, educators, healthcare providers, and community members can minimize the societal impacts of bullying and foster a happier, more confident generation.