In an ideal world, children and youth should grow up in safe and healthy environments. But that is not the realty of the world.
– Sexual harassment is, unfortunately, common in society, and given the negative health effects on those exposed to it, it represents a serious public health issue, says Tore Bonsaksen, Professor of Mental Health at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Han har stått i spissen for fem forskere som nylig fikk publisert en artikkel om temaet i tidsskriftet Frontiers in Public Health.
Serious consequences
One in three Norwegian secondary school students has experienced sexual harassment, according to data from the 2021 Ungdata survey.
Twice as many girls as boys have been subjected to it.
Over 80,000 secondary school students responded that year to questions about their well-being.
The team of five researchers delved deeper into questions related to sexual harassment and its consequences for the youth who experience it.
– We examined sexual harassment in relation to depressive symptoms, loneliness, well-being, and self-esteem. We see consistent correlations. Those who had experienced some form of sexual harassment in the past year scored worse on all these measures, explains Tore Bonsaksen.
The article is based on students' responses to three questions in the Ungdata survey, which may be a limitation for the results.
– Young people may experience sexual harassment in ways that were not captured by these questions, so there could be some underreporting. For instance, they were not asked whether they had been subjected to sexual comments or jokes or if someone had stared at their bodies, Bonsaksen adds.
Another factor that could contribute to underreporting is that young people may become accustomed to harsh language and no longer define it as harassment.
– If sexually harassing words and behaviour are common in the schoolyard, how much do you even notice it after a while? asks Professor Bonsaksen.
– I imagine this could lead to an adjustment to a culture that may feel uncomfortable, at least in terms of what you see and hear around you.
A clear correlation
Researchers define sexual harassment as being subjected to unwanted sexual attention that is perceived as offensive, frightening, humiliating, or degrading.
In this study, students were asked whether they had experienced any of the following: sexualised touching, being called sexualised names or phrases, and the spreading of sexual rumours.
These actions can occur in various ways, including via digital platforms like social media.
– Being subjected to this has negative consequences across a wide range of psychological parameters. These correlations are very clear, says Tore Bonsaksen.
He also points out that the relationship between cause and effect can go both ways. Young people with greater psychosocial challenges may also be more likely to experience sexual harassment.
– You describe this as a public health issue – why should we be concerned about this?
– We should be concerned because such harassment has negative consequences for the mental health of those affected. When we see that so many are exposed to this, and at such a young age, it gives us particular cause for concern. It is painful for the youth at the time, but we must also consider the potential long-term consequences, Bonsaksen explains.
– In what way?
– Although many factors influence how we fare throughout life, early psychological difficulties are linked to a greater risk of mental health problems in adulthood. It can also affect school performance, and later on, one's ability to function in the workplace.
The study also suggests that young people who are repeatedly subjected to sexual harassment should receive special attention and support.
– The more frequently secondary school students experienced sexual harassment, the greater their difficulties across all the areas we examined. If you are exposed more often, it does not just bounce off; it seems to leave deeper marks, says Bonsaksen.
Needs more focus
Tore Bonsaksen and his fellow researchers believe their findings should lead to increased focus on these issues.
– We need to pay attention to this because we see it has such clear consequences for those affected. We also need to think about where it can happen and who should be involved.
In the article, the researchers stress the importance of establishing and maintaining safe and healthy environments for children and young people in the places where they live, play, study, and socialise.
– Those who need to know about this research are the people working with and around young people, like teachers, social workers, and leaders of extracurricular activities. I believe it is important for adults to keep an eye on how young people communicate with and about each other, says the professor.
Increasing awareness among peers, and encouraging young people to have the courage and will to act when they see others being sexually harassed, is also crucial.
– This is something that concerns all of us, really. We all need to pay attention to what our young people are doing and how they are feeling. There is a big difference between having one person stand up for you and having no one at all, Bonsaksen concludes.
Contact information:
- tore.bonsaksen@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 43 03 78
The four other researchers involved in this project are Anne Mari Steigen, Marie Dahlen Granrud and Cecilie Ruud Dangmann from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, as well as Tonje Holte Stea from the University of Agder.