Bullying Bullying

Abstract

Objective: To inform pediatricians about the occurrence of bullying among adolescents, highlighting its high prevalence, characteristics and possible health risks. Data sources: Bibliographic databases and web pages were accessed, with emphasis on recent scientific texts. Data summary: The phenomenon of bullying consists of the adoption of aggressive behavior among students, always understood as normal attitudes and without major consequences. In the last 20 years, more careful studies have shown that the practice of bullying can cause real harm, in the short and medium term, both to its perpetrators and to its targets, school, family and society. Conclusion: The participation of pediatricians in the identification of bullying can contribute decisively to the understanding of the phenomenon and to the construction of possible solutions. Descriptors: Bullying; behavior; adolescence