Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.25(2) > 1058071

Hyun: College Students' Interpersonal Problems and Mental Health according to Experience of Bullying and being Bullied

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the interpersonal problems andmental health of college students according to their experience of bullies and of being victims of bullying in childhood and adolescence.

Methods

The questionnaire was completed by 221 college students in J city. Data were collected during November and December, 2015. The data were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics and ANOVA with the PASW Statistics 18.0 program.

Results

Nearly 65% of participants reported having experienced bullying victimization, bullying perpetration when they were in elementary, middle or high school. Interpersonal problems were significantly different between victims or victim-perpetrator and a control group (F=13.12, p<.001). Mental health was significantly different between victims, perpetrator or victim-perpetrator and a control group, (F=13.15, p<.001).

Conclusion

Participants commonly reported experiencing bullying while at school and these reports were associated with higher interpersonal problems and lower levels ofmental health. Bullying experience needs further investigation as a preventable cause of interpersonal problems and mental health problems across the lifespan.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General Characteristics of Participants (N=221)

jkapmhn-25-147-i001
Table 2

The Degree of Childhood and Adolescent Bullying, Interpersonal Problems and Mental Health (N=221)

jkapmhn-25-147-i002

PA=Assured-dominant; BC=Arrogant-calculating; DE=Cold-hearted; FG=Aloof-introverted; HI=Unassured-submissive; JK=Unassuming-ingenuous; LM=Warm-agreeable; NO=Gregarious-extroverted.

Table 3

Interpersonal Problems and Mental Health by Childhood and Adolescent Bullying

jkapmhn-25-147-i003

PA=Assured-dominant; BC=Arrogant-calculating; DE=Cold-hearted; FG=Aloof-introverted; HI=Unassured-submissive; JK=Unassuming-ingenuous; LM=Warm-agreeable; NO=Gregarious-extroverted.

Notes

This research was supported by the 2015 scientific promotion program funded by Jeju National University.

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