Psychological Stress of Victims and Bullies in Junior High School

Abstract

The present study investigated the psychological stress of victims and bullies in junior high school, in order to consider how to prevent bullying and improve the mental health of both groups of youngsters. Questionnaires assessing the frequency of involvement in bully/victim problems at school, a stress response scale, and a school Stressor scale were completed anonymously by 6,892 junior high school students. The following results were obtained : (a) Pupils could be categorized as "relational victims," "relational and overt victims," "relational bullies," "relational and overt bullies," and "other." (b)"Relational and overt victims" reported the highest stress symptoms ; "relational victims" showed especially depressive-anxious moods, and both types of victims experienced stressful events most frequently in relation to their academic achievement, and felt that these events were aversive. (c) Many "relational and overt bullies" complained that they had extremely irritable-angry and helpless moods, and they were dissatisfied with their relations with their teachers. Finally, some ideas were discussed for improving the mental health of both victims and bullies ; the problem of how to assess bullying status was also discussed.