Spit May Hold Secret to Stopping Bullying

Wondering if your child is being bullied? Tell him to spit.

No, not at the bully. At a scientist, who can check the amount of cortisol in the saliva.

According to a report in Science Daily, researchers at Penn State are working on a test that would help identify children who are chronically bullied -- the kind that might take their own lives because of it, or go on a school-shooting rampage.

Kids who are bullied periodically might get a rush of cortisol after an attack. But those who are bullied constantly have less cortisol than expected. The researchers tested the saliva of schoolkids first thing in the morning, and again after lunch -- when bullying activity might be expected to occur. They also had the students fill out a questionnaire about their bullying experience. They found an indirect link between cortisol levels and being bullied.

I pity the school that tries to start any full-scale saliva-testing, 'cause encouraging kids to spit is probably not the wisest thing. (My son would enjoy it, anyway. Just last week, he was practicing in the lunchroom.) But if you worry that your child is feeling serious stress from bullying and is holding it all inside, this correlation may be something to look into.