Factors affecting school bullying victimization among adolescents

Pages: 1090-1091
Easht Preet Kaur (Department of Psychology, Sai Nath University, Ranchi, Jharkhand)
Dalbir Singh Saini (District Social Welfare Officer, Hisar, Haryana)

School rivalry is increasing day by day in India and is of growing concern for parents, teachers and social thinkers. It is estimated that up to three-quarters of young adolescents experience some types of bullying (such as rumors, public ridicule, etc.) and up to one third report more extreme experiences of coercion or inappropriate touching (Juvonen, Nishina, & Graham, 2000). It can be both direct (e.g. slapping, hitting, etc.) and indirect (spreading rumors, insult, social exclusion). Common bullying activities that adolescents involved are name calling, teasing, taunting, ridiculing, obscene gestures, prejudice, threatening, hitting, kicking, rejection, etc. Being a victim or perpetrator of bullying has adverse psychological correlates. Bullying victimization is associated with many psychological problems, for example, depression, social anxiety, low self-esteem, insecurity, loneliness, low academic achievement, eating disorders, interpersonal problems, anger, hostility aggression, substance abuse, in severe cases suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adolescent pregnancy, HIV risk, and criminality at adulthood. The current articles common factors affecting school bullying among adolescents.