Relationship between Bullying Behaviors, Anxiety and Social Anxiety in Children

Abstract

Purpose: Peer bullying is a global problem. Peer bullying, which can take various forms such as name-calling, ostracism, gossiping, damaging one's property, hitting or pushing, is a persistent problem in school children's lives that affects all exposed students (i.e. bully, victim, and bystander). Bullying is when someone who feels powerful/superior to others for whatever reason, uses their "power" in an aggressive way to target another person they see as somehow weaker/vulnerable than they are, with repeated, deliberate, unwanted words or actions. Victims who are targets of bullies are either physically or emotionally hurt and find it difficult to stop what is happening to them on their own. Being bullied by peers it can have short- and long-term negative consequences for all individuals exposed to the events. When bullying incidents are not intervened at the schools, the effects of bullying continue into adulthood. For this reason, it is important to investigate bullying behaviors experienced from an early age and the relationship between children's anxiety and social anxiety levels for developing policies and intervention programs to prevent peer bullying. The aim of this study is to determine the type and frequency of peer bullying behaviors in Cankiri and to examine the relationship between peer bullying and children's anxiety and social anxiety levels. Method: The research was conducted with cluster sampling method in two primary schools and on 590 students. Data were collected using the Peer Bullying Scale Child Form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised Form. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program through descriptive analyses. type of bullying, and in case of bullying, the victims mostly get help from their family or an adult at school. Findings: In the study, it was found that approximately one fourth of primary school students were exposed to peer bullying, and victim and bullying behaviors differed according to gender, chronic illness, divorce of parents and grade level. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between victim scores and bullying, trait anxiety and social anxiety scores. Implications: Regular examination of bullying behaviors in schools and teaching victims and bystanders what to do in case of bullying can reduce bullying-related depression and anxiety. Originality: The research is the first study on the frequency of peer bullying in Çankırı.

Keywords

• Peer bullying
• Anxiety
• Social anxiety
• Frequency of peer bullying.

Project Number

EF0150219B07

Çocuklarda Zorbalık Davranışları, Kaygı ve Sosyal Kaygı Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Öz Amaç: Akran zorbalığı küresel bir sorundur. İsim takma, dışlama, dedikodu yapma, malına zarar verme, vurma veya itme gibi çeşitli şekillerde olabilen akran zorbalığı, okul çağındaki çocukların deneyimlediği, maruz kalan tüm öğrencileri -zorba, kurban ve seyircileri- etkileyen süreğen bir sorundur. Zorbalık, herhangi bir nedenle kendini başkalarından güçlü/ üstün hisseden bir kişinin, kendisinden bir şekilde daha zayıf/ savunmasız gördüğü bir kişiyi tekrar tekrar, kasıtlı, istenmeyen söz veya eylemlerle hedef alarak "gücünü" saldırgan bir şekilde kullanmasıdır. Zorbaların hedefi olan kurbanlar ya fiziksel ya da duygusal olarak incinirler ve başlarına gelenleri kendi başlarına durdurmakta zorlanırlar. Akranlar tarafından zorbalığa uğramak, olaylara maruz kalan tüm bireyler için kısa ve uzun vadeli olumsuz sonuçlar doğurabilir. Okullarda zorbalık olaylarına müdahale edilmediğinde, zorbalığın etkileri yetişkinlikte de devam etmektedir. Bu nedenle erken yaşlardan itibaren deneyimlenen zorbalık davranışları ve bunların çocukların kaygı ve sosyal anksiyete düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması akran zorbalığını önleyici politika ve müdahale programları geliştirilmesi için önemlidir. Araştırmada akran zorbalığı davranışlarının türü ve sıklığı belirlenerek yaşanan akran zorbalığının çocukların kaygı ve sosyal anksiyete düzeyleriyle ilişkisi Çankırı örnekleminde incelenmiştir. Yöntem: Araştırma küme örnekleme yöntemiyle iki ilkokulda ve 590 öğrenci üzerinde yapılmıştır. Veriler Akran Zorbalığı Ölçeği Çocuk Formu, Çocuklar İçin Durumluk-Sürekli Kaygı Envanteri ve Çocuklar için Sosyal Anksiyete Ölçeği-Yenilenmiş Formu kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Veriler betimsel analizler yoluyla SPSS programı kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmada ilkokul öğrencilerinin yaklaşık dörtte birinin akran zorbalığına maruz kaldığı, kurban ve zorbalık davranışları cinsiyete, kronik rahatsızlığa, ebeveynlerin boşanmış olmasına ve sınıf düzeyine göre farklılaştığı bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, kurban puanları ile zorbalık, sürekli kaygı ve sosyal anksiyete puanları arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı bir korelasyon bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Okullarda zorbalık davranışlarının düzenli olarak incelenmesi ve kurban ve seyircilere zorbalık durumunda neler yapabileceklerinin öğretilmesi zorbalıkla ilişkili depresyon ve kaygının azalmasını sağlayabilir. Özgünlük: Araştırma Çankırı’da akran zorbalığı sıklığı üzerine yapılan ilk çalışmadır.

Keywords

• Akran zorbalığı
• kaygı
• sosyal anksiyete
• Akran zorbalığının sıklığı.

Supporting Institution

Çankırı Karatekin Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri

Project Number

EF0150219B07

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