Investigation of psychological abuse and self-efficiency levels of adolescents according to various variables

Although adolescence problems are a problem that has existed for years, the interest of researchers, teachers and parents in this period has increased in recent years. As in every period of life, individuals can be exposed to abuse during adolescence as well. Adolescents may be exposed to psychological abuse by their parents, which is the most widespread and least reported kind of abuse. Self-efficacy rely on social learning theory is a concept that positively affects individuals' lives and quality of life but is affected by many different factors during its formation. In this study, it is aimed to examine whether the psychological abuse and self-efficacy levels of individuals in adolescence differ according to various variables. The research was carried out with volunteer participants, whose parents' permissions were obtained from the schools of Bosna Hersek Anatolian İmam Hatip High School, Buhari Girls Anatolian İmam Hatip High School, Selçuklu Cumhuriyet Anatolian High School, Selçuklu Öztekinler Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Konya. The sample of the research involve in a total of 408 students, 245 women and 163 men, who were selected by convenience sampling. Personal Information Form prepared by the researcher, Self-Efficacy Scale for Children developed by Telef and Karaca (2012) and Perceived Psychological Abuse Scale developed by Arslan (2015a) were used as data collection tools in the research. In the study, T-test was used to examine whether the self-efficacy and perceived psychological abuse levels of adolescents differ according to gender; ANOVA was used to examine whether self-efficacy and perceived psychological abuse levels from parents differ according to school type, age group and income group. The relationship between adolescents' self-efficacy and perceived psychological abuse levels from their parents was calculated using Pearson Correlation Analysis. SPSS 20 package program was used in data analysis. As a result of the research, it was found that there is a negative significant relationship between the perceived psychological abuse self-efficacy levels of adolescents. In addition, a negative significant relationship was found between perceived psychological abuse and academic self-efficacy, social self-efficacy and emotional self-efficacy. According to the results of the research, it has been determined that as the level of psychological abuse perceived by the adolescents from their families increases, the levels of general self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, social self-efficacy and emotional self-efficacy decrease. According to the research findings, the general self-efficacy and emotional self-efficacy levels of the male participants were significantly higher than the females; academic self-efficacy, emotional self-efficacy, and intimidation/ humiliation sub-dimension scores differ according to school type; It was found that the academic self-efficacy sub-dimension score averages of the students aged 18 and over were higher than the students in the 14-15 age group. Considering the research findings, assertiveness training can be given by the school guidance service in order to increase the self-efficacy levels of adolescents and to create a protective factor against psychological abuse; Activities to improve adolescents' social and emotional self-efficacy can be expanded within the school, and activities can be carried out in schools to enable adolescents to realize their abilities and skills.