Peer bullying findings in adolescents who refer to the outpatient clinic of child and adolescent mental health and illness and the relationship between peer bullying and internet addiction

Aim: Peer bullying is defined as a child or adolescent having difficulty in defending himself or herself from being exposed to disturbing behavior deliberately made by one or more students in a repetitive manner. Child and adolescents take part in peer bullying as; victim, bully or bully/victims. It is noteworthy that when the psychological and social aspects of peer bullying are included as victims, bullies, bully/victims, and adolescents with internet addiction, there are many common points. The aim of this study is to determine frequency of peer bullying and risk factors in adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years who admitted our child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinics and the evaluation of internet addiction frequency in the individuals participating in peer bullying. Method: This study was carried out between September 2017 and November 2017 in Inönü University Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases Clinic. 214 adolescents in age range of 12-16 years participated in the study. The psychiatric diagnoses of the participants were based on a DSM 5-based psychiatric interview. Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, İnternet Addiction Scale, Depression Scale For Children, Strength And Difficulties Questionniare Scale self report form were applied to all participants. In addition, socio-demographic characteristics and internet use features and habits of the participants were recorded. Results: As a result of obtained data, it was determined that frequency of peer bullying was 49.1%. The incidence of depressive disorder was higher in those involved in peer bullying. The prevalence of internet addiction was 7.6% among those involved in peer bullying. In addition, it was found that numerous socio-demographic characteristics did not change risk of both peer bullying and internet addiction. Discussion: When the results were evaluated, it was determined that one of the two individuals aged 12-16 years who applied to the outpatient clinics of child and adolescent mental health and illness was included in the peer bullying and the frequency of internet addiction in these individuals was higher than those who did not. Therefore, we think that it would have beneficial outcomes for child and adolescent psychiatrists to question peer bullying that has many negative consequences in clinical practice. We are also of the opinion that precautions taken by authorities and families for the risk factors we determined in the present study would be important with respect to preventive mental health.