Abstract
In this chapter, children who are bullied about body image during adolescence are discussed. Adolescent bullying, body image and body dissatisfaction, appearance-related bullying among peers, body image bullying as a mediator of sociocultural effects, body image bullying as a mediator of media effects, results of peer bullying related to body image in adolescents, and solutions and suggestions are presented. Having difficulty in adapting to the physical changes that come with development, the adolescent also faces bullying caused by environmental stress factors and needs to regulate their relations with their peers. During this difficult period of development, it becomes more important to understand the stressors that result from closely changing the adolescent in the way of supporting them socially. Bullying and negative perception of body image is becoming more common. It poses a major threat to the well-being and health of adolescents worldwide. Therefore, this chapter aims to explain body image bullying towards adolescents.
TopBullying
Bullying refers to behaviors causing pain, distress, and sorrow by one or more students towards others without an obvious motivation. It is accepted as a series of intentional, offensive, and repetitive behaviors creating negative effects on the victims (Gilbert & Irons, 2009). Bullies want to harm others by using force or through offensive behaviors (Arseneault, Bowes & Shakoor, 2010). In general, they make their victims feel bad, feared, and defenseless (Pegis, 2013).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Bullying: It is a subtype of aggressive behavior by an individual or a group of individuals, such as repeatedly attacking, humiliating and/or ostracizing a relatively weak person.
Body Image: It is a multidimensional structure that encompasses how we perceive, think, feel and act our body. These dimensions include cognitive, emotional, evaluative and behavioral aspects of physical appearance.
Media: Influences body image through the presentation of an unnaturally unattainable ideal of appearance. The media exerts great influence with famous models and high-status figures. It mediates the social learning of followers about standard beauty and body image.
Body Dissatisfaction: Dissatisfaction with the physical size, shape and proportions of persons, normative discontent. Criticism about his physical body is associated with hatred and disgust.
Family Relationships: Present and future body image of parent-adolescent relationships are related. The negative message about weight and shape by family members can cause verbal criticism adolescents to feel bullied towards their body image.
Peer Bullying: Physical, verbal, indirect and emotional negative actions by a person or a group of students repeatedly to create victimization against their peers.
Adolescence: It generally describes the period of life between childhood and adulthood. It typically covers the ages of 12 to 18 years. Puberty is often a biological phenomenon driven by increases in hormones, including the development of secondary sex characteristics and modulations in muscle and fat.