The Power of Attitude Inoculation
How parents can immunize their children against peer pressure and bullying
With the popularity of such television shows as 13 Reasons Why on Netflix, the topic of teen depression has seized the minds of parents — and for good reason: A recent study shows that the rate of major depression among teens (ages 12 to 17) increased 52% between 2005 and 2017, with as many as one in eight experiencing at least one depressive episode in the past 12 months. One explanation, of course, is the rise in cyberbullying, which is strongly linked to depression and suicidal thoughts in teenagers.
As these numbers have increased, parents and teachers have been struggling to insulate children from peer pressure and cyberbullying. Fights on the playground have given way to battle campaigns on social media. Taunts have become texts, tweets, and snaps. They’re omnipresent, and chances are most children will experience threats to their self-esteem as well as some form of bullying during their teenage years.
“You don’t deserve to live.”
“No one likes you.”
“You should just disappear.”
Experts on cyberbullying say that these messages affect mental health, and some teens eventually assimilate the verbal abuse into their self-image. How can…
