IMPACT OF BULLYING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANXIETY IN ADOLESCENCE

Abstract

Abstract. The article describes the results of an experimental study of the impact of bullying on the emergence of anxiety in adolescence. The study procedure corresponds to the scheme of a quasi-experimental ex-post-facto design, which is designed to include a control group and an experimental one. At the first stage of the study, empirical data on the presence of bullying were obtained by using the OLWEUS comprehensive questionnaire in educational institutions (described by the authors' team consisting of L. Naidonova, Yu. Bukina, L. Hryhorovska, N. Diatel). Based on the results of the study, the students were divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group included students whose survey results showed that they had been bullied. The control group included students whose survey results showed that they had not been bullied. At the second stage of the study, the manifestations of anxiety in the experimental and control groups were analysed using the SCARED-C scale (a questionnaire for children and young adults). The statistical reliability of the study results was verified using Student's t-test for independent samples. Bullying detection in experimental group of school children has shown, that 81.82% of studied have been bullied at school from 1 to 2 times over the last few months by means of insulting nicknames, mockeries, slanders, intimidations, humiliating messages in social networks and phone calls. Those from the control group have not experienced school bullying. Comparison of the percentage expression of anxiety types and the use of Student's t-test among representatives of both groups have confirmed the hypothesis that the presence of bullying in the school environment leads to the emergence of social and school phobia. However, the hypothesis about the causes of anxiety and panic disorder with pronounced somatic symptoms of anxiety was disproved. In other words, the manifestations of these types of anxiety in the experimental group are provoked not only by the presence of bullying in the school environment, but by other significant factors that require study. Also, an additional study is required to determine the reasons which cause the high percentage of these types of anxiety among students of the control group, who have not been bullied over the last few months.