A study explored the causes of depression in children who have special needs. Researchers investigated the negative impact of bullying, ostracism, and the diagnosis of a chronic medical condition to discover the emotional impact of each on kids who had special needs. They found that being excluded by their peers, or being bullied, caused more depression than the special need itself.
It’s hard to be different from the rest of the kids at school. There are many types of special needs that are easy for children to notice. For example, young kids will quickly realize when another student is in a wheelchair, or if a student is using a cane or guide dog. Older children and teenagers will pick up on when a peer is lacking in social skills, has a speech impediment, or is being assisted by a teacher’s aide.
A previous study found that kids who are depressed are at a higher risk of becoming the target of bullies. It also found that being bullied often leads to more depression. Other studies have established that children who have special needs are much more likely to be bullied than are kids who have no special needs. Often, kids are picked on specifically because of their special needs.
Another study found that there is an emotional impact to having food allergies. Children who have food allergies cannot safely attend a birthday party and eat the cake and ice cream. They have to say no to many of the treats that are offered at school, and their peers don’t always understand the reasons why.
Parents of kids who have food allergies sometimes choose to keep their child home from a friend’s birthday party in order to avoid exposure to allergens. Being left out of these types of activities has an emotional impact on the child and on his parents as well.
A new study set out to discover which of these factors had the most impact on causing a child who had special needs to be depressed. Was it being bullied? Was it being excluded from or ignored by their peers? Was it health issues related to having a chronic medical condition?
The study included 109 participants who were between the ages of 8 and 17 years old. They were asked to complete a questionnaire that screened for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Their parents also filled out a questionnaire. Another screening tool was used to assess whether or not the kids or teens had been bullied by their peers or excluded by their peers.
The results showed that being bullied and/or being ostracized were the strongest predictors of increased symptoms of depression and anxiety in the children who were in the study. It wasn’t the chronic medical conditions that the children had, or their developmental diagnoses. It was being excluded by their peers.
The results indicate the schools really need to focus on creating a culture of inclusion and a sense of belonging for all students. Schools also need to have clear policies in place to deal with bullying.
Image by khaybe on Flickr