Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 51 WHAT IS BULLYING? Bullying is “a social and interpersonal problem that is characterized by intentional, repetitive, aggressive behaviour involving an imbalance of power or strength”. (Hazelden Foundation, 2008) Bullying (also known as harassment) happens when a person or a group of people repeatedly hurts, threatens, or scares a peer. Awareness and prevention activities have been traditionally aimed at younger generations, but bullying can occur across the life course. Little is known about the prevalence of bullying among older adults, research on the topic is scarce, but stories identifying conflicts in groups of older adults (either living together in a facility, or gathering on a regular basis) are numerous. IMPACT OLDER ADULTS AND BULLYING Bullied Older Adults • social/emotional distress, • depression, • anxiety, sleep difficulties, • self-harming behaviours or physical injury, • isolation, • lower self-esteem, functional changes Witnesses of Bullying May feel guilty for not intervening. This may result in: • a decrease in self-worth, • reduced satisfaction with their living environment or social program, • a loss of confidence in the ability of the facility/organization to protect them against bullying, leading to fear and disrespect. Generally 3 types of older adult bullying can occur: • Adult to adult • Older adult to staff • Staff to older adult CAUSES People who bully may be experiencing low self-esteem, a loss of control over one or more parts of their life, and may be struggling to maintain some sense of control or power. Underlying causes of bullying may be impacted by: • Loneliness and social isolation • Compounded losses (loved ones, family home, changes in mobility, community, independence, etc.) • Changes in mental health and wellbeing • Lack of understanding or assumptions about other ways of life and cultures • General fear and anxiety Image by freepik
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