Exposure of Students to Bullying in A Secondary School and Evaluation of Related Factors

Abstract

Objective: Bullying that influences health and many health related behaviors in adolescences can lead to negative changes on their behaviors even in the later periods of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cases of exposure to bullying, depression, anxiety state, relations with the family and school success among the students in a middle school in Adana. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among middle school students at 6th, 7th and 8th grade in the city of Adana. The survey form applied to the students included socio-demographic attributes, Child Depression Scale, STAI Scale, California Bullying Victimization Scale, Family Assessment Scale and Conners Teacher Rating Scale. Results: The number of students at 6th, 7th and 8th grade was 53 (44,5%), 29 (24,4%) and 37 (31,1%) respectively . 33 of the students (27,7%) in the study were victims of peer bullying. Students who were subject to violence at home, at lower year levels and with non-graduate mothers were more exposed to bullying. The ones exposed to bullying were detected to have high levels of depression anxiety and hyperactivity. Discussion: School bullying is an issue which is common all over the world and should not be underestimated. This study has ascertained that children exposed to bullying have high levels of anxiety and incidence of depression, also these children were found to be more hyperactive.

Keywords

• student
• depression
• öğrenci
• depresyon