1. Bullying, sadness and worry: Knowing what to watch out for and when to be concerned
Becky Hashim, Ph.D.
Attending Psychologist
Behavioral Consultation Team
Assistant Professor
Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics
Children’s Hospital at Montefiore

2. Goals of Presentation
Review of Turner Syndrome, social competence, and self-esteem
Definition of bullying
Differentiating between normal child conflict and bullying
Warning signs for depression and anxiety
How you can help your child (and yourself!)

3. Turner Syndrome (TS): Psychological research data
Research on psychosocial development has documented adjustment problems in the following areas:
Immaturity
Poor concentration
Increased activity level
Peer relationship problems
Negative self-concept
Negative body image
Delays in cognitive maturation (nonverbal processing)
Family struggle in accepting the diagnosis
Low self-esteem
Limited access to resources and support
Immaturity and anxiety are most common in adolescence

4. TS, self-esteem, and self-concept
Girls with Turner Syndrome have high motivation for social relationships, but perform more poorly than their peers on several measures of social competence and social cognition (Hong et al., 2011)
Impairments in sensing reciprocal social behaviors, using expressive social communication, interpreting social cues
Link between impaired social performance and decreases in self-esteem and self-concept
Social contexts become much more subtle and demanding with age (adolescence)

5. Simply stated, bullying…
Is intimidating or subjecting a person to hostility or ill treatment
Involves actions which cause another person to feel afraid, humiliated, embarrassed, threatened or shamed
Occurs in a relationship in which there is an imbalance of power
Is repeated over time

6. Bullying Happens in Four Ways
Verbal
Teasing, jokes, ignoring/isolation, gossip, threats
Physical
Blocking someone’s path, physical restraint, pushing/kicking, hazing
Sexual
Teasing, touching, slapping, pictures, s, graffiti, sexual assault
Property
Hiding belongings, theft, arson, extortion, vandalism, destruction

7. A normal childhood activity A rite of passage The target’s fault
Bullying is NOT…
A normal childhood activity
A rite of passage
The target’s fault

8. Differentiating Bullying from Normal Peer Conflict/Mean Behavior
Normal conflict/mean behavior
Equal power or are friends
Happens occasionally
Accidental
Not serious
Equal emotional reaction
Not seeking power
Remorse-will take responsibility
Effort to solve the problem
Bullying
Imbalance of power
Repeated negative actions
Intentional
Physical or emotional harm
Unequal emotional reaction
Seeking control/material things
No remorse-blames target
No effort to solve the problem

9. For the target, bullying is a “loss” experience
LOSS of safety
LOSS of self-esteem
LOSS of belonging
LOSS of control over their own life

10. Effects of Bullying on the Target
Physical Effects
Stomach aches
Weight loss/gain
Headaches
Drop in grades
Drug or alcohol use
Sexual activity
Physical aggression
Suicidal
Homicidal
Emotional Effects
Alienation
Low self-esteem
Insecurity
FEAR
Depression
Withdrawn
Aggression
Anger
Vengeful
Physical Effects
􀁺 Stomach aches
􀁺 Weight loss/gain
􀁺 Headaches
􀁺 Drop in grades
􀁺 Drug or alcohol use
􀁺 Sexual activity
􀁺 Physical aggression
􀁺 Suicidal
􀁺 Homicidal

11. Warning signs that your child may be the target of bullies
Frequently teased, taunted belittled, ridiculed, intimidated threatened, dominated or subdued
Has a derogatory nickname
Regularly has bruises or injuries that can’t be explained
Has belongings taken or damaged
Few or no close friends at school

12. Warning Signs Frequently socially isolated
Less assertive or lacks the skills to respond to others’ teasing or harassment
Appears weak or easily dominated
Tries to stay close to a teacher or other adult at recess or breaks
Talk with your child about bullying!

13. What to do if you suspect your child is being bullied
6/25/2018
What to do if you suspect your child is being bullied
Talk with your child
If your child is being bullied, they need to have a voice in how the situation is handled
Contact the school
Set up a meeting with your child’s teacher(s) or counselor
Consider including the school resource officer if applicable
Develop a plan for keeping your child safe, particularly during vulnerable times (class breaks, lunch, recess).
Find out what activities or counseling options are available for your child
Contact police or school resource officer…
If the actions are criminal (assault, theft, serious threats, vandalism)
Copyright by Marsha M. Linehan 13

14. Recommendations if you suspect your child is being bullied
Don’t encourage your child to fight back—two wrongs don’t make a right!
Listen to your child; do not ignore your child’s plea for help.
Don’t confront the parents or the other child directly.
Avoid bringing your child and the bully together to elicit an apology or resolve the issue.
BECKY START

15. “Sad” vs “Depressed” How do we know when we’re depressed?
difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
fatigue and decreased energy
feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
feelings hopeless
Trouble sleeping OR sleeping too much
irritability, restlessness
loss of interest in activities or hobbies that you once enjoyed
overeating or appetite loss
persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
Not just every now and then – really gets in the way of your functioning ME

16. “Worry” vs “Anxiety” How do we know when we’re anxious?
Feelings of nervousness or dread
Trouble concentrating
Feeling tense and jumpy
Anticipating the worst
Irritability
Restlessness
Watching for signs of danger
Feeling like your mind’s gone blank
Physical symptoms (pounding heart, sweating, stomach or headaches, etc.)
Not just every now and then – really gets in the way of your functioning ME

17. Caregiver support!
It’s normal to have concerns about your child’s health, social interactions, friendships, education and general well-being
Stay connected (#1): Establish and maintain quality relationships with friends and family
support groups composed of other people experiencing similar challenges
will not only aid your own well-being, but also provide rewarding opportunities for you to help others

18. What can you do to help your child?
Pay attention to your child’s social functioning
If you sense any problems, act quickly!
Carefully develop and nurture social skills and relationships
Group therapy: Peer groups for girls with TS can help reinforce your daughter's self-esteem and provide her with a social network of people who understand her experience
Create a “buddy system” with other parents who have TS children
Increase self-esteem
Encourage activities that your child feels she is good at and/or enjoys ME