The relationship between self-perception and identity development processes in adolescents with peer bullying

Adolescence is a period in which individuals experience the process of searching for identity and form identity belonging. With the adolescence period, the adolescent is expected to complete their development in physical, cognitive, social and similar developmental areas. However, adolescence not only offers many development opportunities for adolescents but also carries the risk of certain negative situations. The purpose of this study is to reveal the relationship between the behavior of peer bullying which is one of the frequently encountered problems in adolescence, with the self-perception and identity development processes of adolescents. The research was carried out using the relational screening model. The study group of the research consisted of 411 students studying in 12 state high schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the province of Malatya in the 2019-2020 academic year. The stratified sampling method was used to determine the study group. In the research, "Peer Bullying Scale", "Social Comparison Scale" and "Expanded Objective EGO Identity Status Scale" were used as data collection tools. The data obtained were analyzed by correlation (r, rs) analysis to determine the level and direction of the relationship between variables. Independent samples t-test and Mann Whitney U test to determine the differentiation of variables according to gender and type; One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal Wallis - H test were used to determine the differentiation according to school type. According to the findings, it is determined that there is a meaningful relationship between peer bullying and being a victim of peer bullying also identity seeking dimension of self-perception and identity development. According to the gender variable which is one of the independent variables of the study, it was determined that vocational and anatolian high school students were at a disadvantage in displaying peer bullying behavior according to the type of school, another independent variable in which being male is an important risk factor for peer bullying. When the findings of the study are evaluated, it can be said that peer bullying is one of the important risk factors for identity development and self-perception in adolescents.