The negative social, physical and mental health effects of childhood bullying are still evident nearly 40 years later, according to research by British psychiatrists.

In the first study of its kind to look at the effects of bullying beyond early adulthood, the researchers said its impact is "persistent and pervasive," with people who were bullied when young likelier to have poorer physical and psychological health and poorer cognitive functioning at age 50.

"The effects of bullying are still visible nearly four decades later . . . with health, social and economic consequences lasting well into adulthood," said Ryu Takizawa, who led the study at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London.