Researchers surveyed 876 teenagers aged 14–17 in Italy and discovered that both traditional bullying and cyberbullying were linked to lower perceived academic performance. When teens are bullied, they tend to feel worse about their schoolwork—regardless of their actual grades.
This matters because how your teen views their own abilities can influence their engagement with learning and their willingness to seek help when they struggle.
Bullying's Hidden Cost: Your Teen's Self-Belief
The study found that bullied teens reported feeling less confident about their academic abilities. This wasn't always reflected in actual grade changes, which makes it easy for parents to miss. A teen might maintain good marks while privately doubting whether they're capable or worthy of academic success. Cyberbullying carried the same weight as schoolyard bullying—both undermined how teens perceived themselves as learners.
Strong Future Goals Act as a Shield
The most encouraging finding: teens with a strong sense of future orientation—meaning they thought actively about their goals, dreams, and what they wanted to achieve—remained more confident in their abilities even when facing bullying. When your teen has clear aspirations, bullying feels less defining. Their identity isn't trapped in the moment; instead, they see themselves as someone working towards something bigger.
Help Your Teen Build a Protective Future Vision
- Have regular conversations about their interests, values, and goals—small milestones count, not just grand ambitions.
- Take both schoolyard and online bullying seriously; both damage how teens see themselves as learners.
- Help your teen reconnect with their future when bullying feels overwhelming, so they don't lose sight of who they're becoming.