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Bullying is an experience that puts youth at risk for problematic anxiety. This link was identified in a study that followed more than 6,000 British children from birth onwards. Youth who reported being bullied at age 13 — with incidents ranging from physical assault to social exclusion — were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at age 18. Notably, risk increased with greater frequency of such experiences. Bullying can be prevented, since interventions that can reduce this problem exist.

This information was originally published in Vol. 19, No. 1 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.