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To the Editor: We read with great interest the article “School Bullying and Association with Somatic Complaints in Victimized Children” by Malhi and Bharti [1] in your esteemed journal. It is a succinctly written paper and we commend the authors for it. This is an area of interest for us, as we are presently pursuing a similar study, and we would like to add a few points that we feel would enrich this article further.
Certain studies have pointed out an interesting finding, that even aggressors have been found to have a higher frequency of health complaints [2]. Higher levels of aggression and victimization each, were found to be independently associated with more frequent visits to the school nurse for somatic complaints, illnesses, and injuries.
In this respect, studies have shown that maternal and paternal care can reduce the manifestation of post-traumatic stress symptoms in victimized children. But this needs to be counterbalanced by the converse finding that maternal and paternal overprotection (anxious-controlling/aggressive) has a positive association with post-traumatic stress symptoms [3].
Finally, one cannot overlook the looming and pervasive modern threat of cyberbullying, which while following many of the underlying dynamics of more traditional forms of bullying, features some unique qualities, such as the pervasive, never-ending nature of cyberbullying, and the ability to quickly reach large audiences, which can both magnify the damage caused and make it more difficult to detect [4]. In conclusion, appropriate frameworks and guidelines must be developed at a national level, for implementation in all teaching institutions that involve not just the early identification of victimized children, but should also include early identification and rehabilitation of aggressors, counseling of parents of both aggressors and victimized children, and strict guidelines to restrict cyberbullying, including teaching safe online practices.
References
Malhi P, Bharti B. School bullying and association with somatic complaints in victimized children. Indian J Pediatr. 2021;88:962–7.
Vernberg EM, Nelson TD, Fonagy P, Twemlow SW. Victimization, aggression and visits to the school nurse for somatic complaints, illnesses and physical injuries. Pediatrics. 2011;127:842–8.
Plexousakis SS, Kourkoutas E, Giovazolias T, Chatira K, Nikolopoulos D. School bullying and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: the role of parental bonding. Front Public Health. 2019;7:75.
Vaillancourt T, Faris R, Mishna F. Cyberbullying in children and youth: implications for health and clinical practice. Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62:368–73.
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Philip, A.C., Fahad, M. School Bullying and Association with Somatic Complaints in Victimized Children: Correspondence. Indian J Pediatr 89, 524 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-021-04042-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-021-04042-7