Prediction of peer bullying in adolescents in terms of self compassion and prosocial behavior

The aim of this study is to examine the predictive role of self-compassion and prosocial behavior on peer bullying behaviors among adolescents, and to investigate the relationship between these psychosocial variables and both bullying and victimization. The study was conducted with 455 adolescents enrolled in public and private high schools in the Merkezefendi district of Denizli province during the 2024–2025 academic year. Data were collected using the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form, Peer Bullying Identification Scale (Adolescent Form), and Adolescent Prosociality Scale, and were analyzed using SPSS 25 software. The results revealed significant negative correlations between self-compassion and both bullying and victimization, as well as between prosocial behavior and bullying. Furthermore, self-compassion significantly predicted both bullying and victimization levels, while prosocial behavior was a significant predictor of bullying only. Demographic analyses showed that gender, grade level, perceived parental attitudes, family income level, and perceived academic success created significant differences in certain variables. Notably, adolescents perceiving their parents as democratic demonstrated lower levels of bullying and victimization. These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating bullying and victimization experiences during adolescence not solely through individual psychological traits, but also within a broader contextual and social framework. This study contributes to the limited literature that simultaneously addresses self-compassion and prosocial behavior, and offers valuable insights for preventive mental health interventions targeting adolescents.