Bullying Incidence among Intermediate School Students in Mosul City

Background: Bullying is serious risks for children's and adolescents' health. Bullying is defined worldwide as a purposeful, aggressive behavior which includes a real or perceived social power imbalance among individuals, especially among children and adolescents. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of bullying among intermediate school students in Mosul city. Methods and materials: A quantitative (non-experimental), descriptive, cross-sectional study design. The total sample included 542 adolescents that included 8 intermediate schools aged between 12-15 years from the period of 10(th) November 2023 to 10(th) January 2024. Data collected by using a questionnaire Part I: consist of socio-demographical data, Part II: consist questionnaire of bullying scale for Olweus (2003) with some modifications on the questions. Results: The majority of the study sample aged was 15 years (31.4%), and (11.8%) of the study sample was aged 12 years, Mean age was (13.86) and SD was (1.050). The incidence being victims of bullying was (15%). High incidence of them (4.6%) being victims of verbal bullying and (2.8%) being victims of physical bullying. Additionally, the study revealed that there are a significant association between types of bullying and demographical characteristics of the study sample. Conclusions: This study found a significant frequency of bullying among intermediate school students, with verbal bullying being more incidences among them. and there is a significant correlation between bullying and gender, grade level. Students who have experienced bullying are more likely to experience psychological disorders and criminal conduct in the future, hence it is imperative to implement a comprehensive school-based anti-bullying program.