Relationship Between Bullying, Victimization, Pro-Social Behaviour and Depresssion among Teenagers in Selangor Malaysia
The current study examined the relationship between bullying, victimization and prosocial behaviour with depression among teenagers. The study also determined the moderation effect of pro-social behavior on the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Ecological systems theor...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2009
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7579/1/ABS_----__FEM_2009_6.pdf |
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| Summary: | The current study examined the relationship between bullying, victimization and prosocial
behaviour with depression among teenagers. The study also determined the
moderation effect of pro-social behavior on the relationship between the independent
and dependent variables. Ecological systems theory and social cognitive theory were
used to highlight the assumptions of the study. The respondents of the study were
242 teenagers from selected secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia, aged between
13-17 years (mean = 14.67 years; s.d = 1.27). Simple random sampling technique
was used to identify the respondents. Peer Relationship Questionnaire (PRQ) by
Rigley and Slee (1993) was used to assess bullying, victimization and pro-social
behaviour among respondents of the study. The Children Depression Inventory
(CDI) (Kovac, 1985) was used to measure depression. Descriptive statistics, t-test,
regression and simple factorial ANOVA were used in data analysis. The findings of the study indicated that there was a significant difference (t = 3.306, p ≤ .05) in
bullying between male and female teenagers. The study also indicated that
depression has a significant and positive correlation with both bullying (r = .296, p
≤.01) and victimization (r = .432, p ≤ .01). Also, the study found significant and
positive correlation between bullying and victimization (r = .422, p ≤ .01). Pro-social
behaviour was found to have a positive correlation with victimization only (r = .148,
p ≤ .05). Victimization was the only unique predictor of depression (Beta = .373, p
≤.0001) in peer relationships. Findings of the study equally revealed that pro-social
behaviour does not moderate the relationship between bullying, victimization and
depression. The findings of the study lend support to the theory of Bronfenbrener
(1979) and Bandura (1963) in that depression can be caused by the socioenvironment,
and that bullying, victimization and pro-social behaviour can all be
learned from the environment. It also adds to the understanding of peer relationship
among teenagers, by emphasizing the need for psychological treatment for identified
bullies, victims and depressed teenagers. The study suggested that future research
need to expand beyond the self report of internalizing and externalizing depression
reported by the teenage respondents. The self report from parents and teachers should
also be included as part of the assessment of teenagers. |
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