The relationship between school bullying and depression and self-esteem levels among the students of three primary schools with different socioeconomic levels in Sivas province

Objective: This study was carried out in order to determine the relationship between bullying and depression, self-esteem levels of the students attending in three different elementary schools with different socio economic levels. Methods: This study, which was planned as cross-sectional study, was carried out between 23 May and 3 June 2005. Random selection method was used to determine the schools. Of the 563 students attending in these schools, 521 who had fulfilled the questionnaire forms were included in this study. The questionnaire consist of questions asked children's socio-demographic characteristics, Depression Scale for Children and Piers-Harris's Self Concept Scale in Children used for psychological assessment, Violence-Rough Power Questionnaire established kind of peer bullying. Results: The exposure rate of bullying of students was 43%. In all these schools with socio economic levels, especially in low socioeconomic level school it has been determined that the depression levels were getting higher (p=0.00) and self-esteem level were getting lower (p=0.00) among students who have been exposed to bullying. In all three schools the most frequent physical bullying type was pushing, verbal bullying type was nicking, sexual bullying type was disturbing by touching. The most frequent emotional bullying type was damaging properties in high socio economic level school, humiliating in mid socio economic level school and isolating in low economic level school. It has been determined a relationship between bullying and age, class level, occupation of father, education level of father, the number of sister and brothers and socio economic level of family (p=0.00). It has been determined that bullying level was being effected independently by number of sister and brothers and socio economic level (p=0.001). Conclusion: In order to solve the bullying problem in all socio economic level schools there a cooperation must be constituted between teachers, family and school management. There must be a child and adolescent psychiatrist consultation service for victims and for bullying individuals. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 10: 151-158)