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Bullying used to move up the social ladder by kids

By Staff Writer

Kids who endure extended periods of bullying may not only develop depressive symptoms, but also turn to illicit substances to relieve themselves of the stress. However, bulling is not uncommon in school, and new research suggests that many children use it as a social climbing tool.

Experts at the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) recently discovered that bullying is not an activity limited to troubled school teens, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. UC Davis professor Robert Faris and his colleagues examined more than 4,000 middle and high school students in the North Carolina area. They were asked to identify their five best friends, five people they had bullied and five that had picked on them.

Faris tracked the individuals' popularity in comparison to their aggression. The study was able to determine that those who were more aggressive were higher up on the social ladder.

Early adolescence is a sensitive time in which individuals are self-conscious as they attempt to find a sense of identity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug rehab programs and counseling can help kids who have turned to illicit substances to cope with bullying.

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