The relationship of peer bullying with familial expressed emotion and psychopathology

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of peer bullying among the adolescents, determine the risk factors of PB and determine the relationship between peer bullying and psychiatric symptoms and expressed emotion. Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 5th, 6th 7th and 8th grade students, and the students who were selected with simple random sampling method were divided into four groups as the victim, bully, bully/victim and no peer bullying. In the study, a Personal Information Form, O/weus Bullying Questionnaire, Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and Shortened Expressed Emotion Scale were used as data collection tools. Results: Prevalence of peer bullying of secondary school was found to be %47 (31.4% victim, 4.6% bully, 11% bully/victim). VVhen the study groups were compared in terms of subscales, behavioral problems and emotional problems were significantly higher in both the bully and the victim groups, while prosocial behaviors were found to be significantly less in these two groups. However, teenagers, who were a victim or a bully, were found to perceive their families significantly less emotionally supportive and intrusive compared to their peers who were not a victim or a bully. The perception of the family as intrusive increased the chances of being a victim by 1.04 times and a victim/bully by 1.08 times. The lack of emotional support increased the chances of being a bully/victim by 1.03 times. Conclusion: Our study reveals that there is a relationship between emotional-behavioural problems and peer bullying. It has been found that being part of bully, victim or both forms of peer bullying is significantly related to psychopathology. The findings showed the importance of family climate in peer bullying.