School Bullying, Depression and Anxiety among Students of Secondary Schools of

Suryodaya Municipality, Illam

Yakha BM1, Lama S2, Sapkota N3, Pradhan N4, Karna B5

1
PG Nursing student, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, BPKIHS
2
Professor, HOD, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, BPKIHS
3
Professor, HOD, Department of Psychiatry, BPKIHS
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, BPKIHS
5
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, BPKIHS

Correspondence: Bhima_me@hotmail.com, 9860178940

ABSTRACT

Background: School bullying is an intentional act of hurt and frighten others, it is common in schools. Different
kind of bullying student may experience like physical, verbal, emotional and cyber bullying in the school.

Title of the study: School Bullying, Depression and Anxiety among Students of Secondary Schools of Suryodaya
Municipality, Illam.

Objectives: To assess school bullying, depression and anxiety among students and to find out association between
school bullying and depression and anxiety.

Materials and method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. Sample size was 306
and Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample. School bullying (Physical, Verbal,
Emotional, Sexual and Cyber Bullying)questionnaire was developed and assessed in reference to Olweus Bullying
Profile, Depression and anxiety was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II) and Beck Anxiety
Inventory (BAI). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS version 20.

Results: Present study found that 112 (37%) of respondents had experienced school bullying among them physical
bullying 41(36.6%), verbal bullying 40(35.7%), emotional bullying 10 (8.92%) sexual bullying 11(9.82%) and cyber
bullying 10(8.92%). Result showed that more than half (52.6%) respondent had minimal depression followed by
mild depression 35.6%. More than two-third (69.9%) respondent had low anxiety.

Conclusion: Bullying is common in schools. Minimal Depression and low anxiety were common in students which
ultimately leads to suicidal ideation. There was significant association between physical, verbal and sexual bullying
with gender and obtained percentage in last year summative annual exam.

Keywords: School bullying, Depression and Anxiety.

INTRODUCTION
Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes
another person injury or discomfort. It can be a humiliating and embarrassing experience for a
child which can demoralize them. Bullying can take the form of physical contact, words or more
subtle actions. The bullied individual typically has trouble defending him or herself and does
nothing to cause the bullying. Depression and anxiety are common among the bullied children it
ultimately hampers in academic performance of students. 1

A cross-section conducted to find out prevalence of different school bullying behavior in

children, the study reveals that up to 25% of high school students report being victimized by
bullies. Thirteen percent of victim has considered suicide. In rural India 31% of middle school
students report being bullied. Bullying is twice more prevalent in coeducational schools than in
girls schools. The prevalence of bullying increases from 13% in 5 th grade to 46% in 9th grade.
Bullying is high prevalent in higher class with more class repeater students. Physical types of
bullying was more common in boys with kicking method by 83%, punching 15%. Depression,
anxiety and low self-esteem was commonly reported by victim children. 5

METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. The population of the study
was the students of secondary level schools of Suryodaya Municipality, Illam District. Sample
size was 306 and Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample. Data was
collected by using self-administered questionnaire related to school bullying (Physical, Verbal,
Emotional, Sexual and Cyber Bullying) questionnaire was developed and assessed in reference
to Olweus bullying Profile, Depression and anxiety was assessed using Beck Depression
Inventory (BDI II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Ethical consideration was obtained from
Institutional Review committee of BPKIHS to conduct the study. Informed written was obtained
from each respondents. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS) version 20 for windows.

RESULT
More than half 159 (52%) of respondents were female followed by 147 ( 48%) male. Total of
112 (37%) of respondents had experienced school bullying at secondary level of education.
Maximum of 62 (55.%) female respondents experienced bullying followed by male 50(45%).

Types of School Bullying

45
40 39
35 32
30
Frequencies

25
20 16 Male
15 13
10 Female
10 7
5 5
5 3
1
0
Physical Verbal sexual Emotional Cyber
bullying bullying bullying bulying bullying
* Multiple response found in physical, verbal and emotional bullying.

Figure 1: Types of Bullying Experienced by the Respondents n=112

Figure 1 illustrates that majority of male respondents 32(29.0%) had experienced physical type
of bullying followed by verbal bullying 16 (14.0%). Maximum of female respondents 39(35.0%)
had experienced verbal bullying followed by physical bullying 13(12.0%), only 10(9%) of
female respondents had experienced sexual bullying, equal percentage of 5 (5.0%) had
experienced cyber bullying by both sex.

Table 1: Association Between Socio-Demographic Variables and Different Types of

Bullying n=112
Characteristics Total Types of Bullying
Physical Verbal Emotiona Sexual Cyber
Sex Bullying Bullying l Bullying Bullying Bullying
Male 147 32(21.8%) 16(10.9%) 3 (2.0%) 1(0.7%) 5(3.4%)
Female 159 13 (8.2%) 39(24.5%) 7 (2.0%) 10(6.3%) 5(3.1%)
 
P- Value 0.001 0.002 0.401 0.008 1.000 *
Obtained
Percentage
<50% 97 25(25.8%) 27(27.8%) 6(6.2%) 3(3.1%) 6 (6.2%)
50-75% 173 15(8.7%) 20(11.6%) 2(1.2%) 5 (2.9%) 3 (1.7%)
>75% 36 5(8.7%) 8(22.2%) 2(5.6%) 2(8.3%) 3(2.8%)
P-Value 0.001 0.003 NA NA NA
Pearson Chi-Square Test *= continuity Correction NA= Chi-Square Test not applicable

Above table 1 showed that there is significant association between sex and physical bullying (P=
0.001), sex and verbal bullying (P=-0.002) as well as sex and sexual bullying (P=0.008). There is
significant association between physical bullying and obtained percentage P=0.001 and
association between verbal bullying and obtained percentage (P= 0.003).

Table 2: Association between level of Depression and Different Types of Bullying n= 112

Level of Depression
Types of Bullying Total P-Value
Minimal / Mild Depression Moderate/ Severe Depression

Physical Bullying * 45 33(73.3%) 12(26.7%) 0.001

Verbal Bullying * 55 43(78%.2%) 12(21.8%) 0.015

Emotional Bullying* 10 8(80.0%) 2(20.0%) 0.774

Sexual Bullying 11 7(63.6%) 4(36.4%) 0.012

Cyber Bullying 10 8(80.0%) 2(20.0%) 0.776

 Multiple Response

Table 2 depicts that there is significant association found between level of depression and
physical bullying (P=0.001), with verbal bullying (0.015) also with sexual bullying (p=0.012).
 Table 3: Association between level of Anxiety and Different Types of Bullying
n=112

level of Anxiety Total P- value

Types of Bullying
Low anxiety Moderate/ Severe Anxiety

Physical Bullying * 21(46.7%) 24 (53.3%) 45 <0.001

Verbal Bullying * 30(54.5%) 25(45.5%) 55 0.006

Emotional Bullying 5(50.0%) 5(50.0%) 10 0.162

*

Sexual Bullying 5(45.5%) 6(54.5%) 11 0.013

Cyber Bullying * 8(80.0%) 2(20.0%) 10 0.722

 Multiple Response

Table 3 illustrates that significant association found between level of anxiety and physical
bullying (P=<0.001, with verbal bullying (p=0.006) also with sexual bullying (P=0.013).

DISCUSSION

Total 306 respondents were enrolled in the study, among them, 52.0% of respondents were
female and 48.0% of them were male. This finding is similar to a descriptive study conducted by
Robert J, et al. where majority of respondents (54.0%) were female and rest of respondents
46.0%) were male. 15

Among male respondents, 28.0% had experienced physical type of bullying followed by verbal
bullying (14.0%). This finding is similar to a study conducted by Shemesh E,et al. result showed
that maximum number of male respondents (38.6%) had experienced physical bullying followed
by verbal bullying (29.3%).10 Present study revealed that 35.0% of female respondents had
experienced verbal bullying followed by physical bullying (12.0%). This finding is consistent
with a study conducted by Shemesh E, et al. result showed that maximum of female respondents
(29.4%) had experienced verbal bullying and 14.0% had experienced physical bullying. 10

To be found more physical bullying among male respondents may be because of boys tend to
be more physically aggressive than girls and male bullies usually enjoy the status of fight. It is
also contributed by a great deal of male bullying is influenced by the "boy code." Among the
girls it tends to experience more verbal bullying than physical because of girls tend to bully other
girls indirectly or by using relational aggression.

Nearly (18.0%) of respondents missed the classes due to school bullying experience in school.
The reason this result might be because of those respondents who had experienced school
bullying (48.2%) of them had fear of reoccurrence of school bullying event. Similar findings was
reported on school bullying statistic of united kingdom 2010 report, there are about 160,000
children missing school every day due to fear of being bullied 14.

Respondents who had experienced physical bullying (75.6%) had minimal and mild depression
followed by moderate to severe depression (36.4%). This findings is similar to study conducted
by Salmon G, et al. result showed that 79.4% of physically bullied respondents had mild
depression and 20.6% had moderate depression.32 Respondents who were experienced verbal
bullying (80.0%) had minimal and mild depression. This finding is supported by a study
conducted Gregg M, et al., where 75.2% of verbally bullied respondents had mild depression. 17
Anxiety and depression found to be common among bullied victim might be attributed by
bulling  can be a traumatic experience it can lead to pain and distress among victims also
impact almost every aspect of their lives leaving them feeling lonely, isolated, vulnerable, and
anxious. Bullying is a major risk factor as well as major complication for anxiety and depression
among victim.  Many studies also have demonstrated a concurrent association between bullying
and depression in adolescent.
Present study illustrated that significant association between sex and different types school
bullying (physical, verbal, sexual bullying) P<0.05. This finding is similar to the study conducted
by Martin K et al. findings showed that significant association between physical bullying and sex
P=0.031, verbal school bullying and sex P=0.002, emotional school bullying and sex =<0.001. 35
Association was found with obtained percentage might be because of respondent who were male
had chances of physical bullying and verbal bullying among the girls.

CONCLUSION

Present study concluded that school bullying is common in female respondents, who had
experienced verbal and sexual bullying whereas male respondent had experienced physical
bullying. There was significant association between physical, verbal and sexual bullying with
gender and obtained percentage in last year summative annual exam. Minimal Depression and
low anxiety were common in students which ultimately leads to suicidal ideation.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With a sense of honor and pride I owe my sincere indebtedness to my guide Professor Sami
Lama, Head of Department of Psychiatric Nursing, College of Nursing, B.P. Koirala institute of
health science, Dharan for her continuous guidance and supervision, constant encouragement and
undue co-operation which has led to the completion of this thesis successfully.

I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to my co-guides Ms. Nirmala Pradhan,
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, College of Nursing, B.P. Koirala
institute of health science, co-guide Mr. Basant Kumar Karn, Additional Professor and Head
Department of Child Health Nursing, College of Nursing, B.P. Koirala institute of health science
and Dr. Nidesh Sapkota, Associate Professor & Head of Department of Psychiatry, B.P. Koirala
institute of health science, Dharan for valuable suggestion, constructive feedback throughout the
completion of this thesis.
I sincerely thank to Dr. Surya Raj Niraula , Additional Professor, School of Public Health and
Community Medicine, BPKIHS, Dharan for enormous help, suggestion and guidance in
statistical analysis without his continuous support and supervision this study would not have
been complete.

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