Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.22.1.05
Bullying Behavior in Relation to Psychological Difficulties: Prospective Research
Kristina SESAR
orcid.org/0000-0003-2406-7114
; Health Care Center, Široki Brijeg
Damir SESAR
; Health Care Center, Široki Brijeg
Arta DODAJ
; Faculty of Philosophy, Mostar
Abstract
A number of studies have shown the relationship between
exposure to bullying behavior and psychological problems, but
it is still unclear which comes first, involvement in bullying
behavior or psychological difficulties. The aim of this study was
to investigate whether involvement in bullying behavior
precedes psychological symptoms or whether these symptoms
precede involvement in bullying behavior. A six-month
longitudinal study with baseline measurements was conducted
in the fall of 2008 and follow-up measurements where taken in
the spring of 2009 in four elementary schools in the Široki
Brijeg municipalities. The study included 536 children aged 11
to 15 years, who participated by filling out a questionnaire on
both occasions of data collection. The school Relationship
Questionnaire was used for assessments of bullying behavior
while for assessments of psychological adjustment the Youth
Self-Report was used. The results show that children involved in
bullying behavior had a significantly higher risk of developing
psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression, social
problems and rule breaking behavior, compared with children
who are not involved in bullying behavior. At the same time,
only rule breaking behavior as a specific psychological difficulty
at the beginning of the year represents a risk factor for
involvement in bullying during the year.
Keywords
bullying; longitudinal study; psychosocial adjustment
Hrčak ID:
101008
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2013.
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