Comparative examination of the situations of peer bullying among children under protection and children living with their families: İzmir case

The aim of this study is to comparatively examine the experiences of peer bullying among children aged 12-17 under protection and those living with their families in İzmir province. A quantitative research method based on the general survey model was employed in this study, and both individual and relational survey models were applied according to the nature of the data. The study population consists of children aged 12-17, attending school, living in the Children's Homes site in the Karşıyaka district of İzmir, as well as in 44 other children's homes located in various districts of İzmir, along with children of the same age group living with their families and sharing similar characteristics. A total of 148 children participated in the study. Data were collected using the Traditional Peer Bullying Identification Scale and the Socio-Demographic Information Form. The findings revealed no significant difference between family-based (71.64) and institutionalized children (77.36) in terms of bullying perpetration and victimization scores (p>0.05). However, in terms of victimization, children living with their families (82.93) had higher scores compared to those living in children's homes (66.07). In conclusion, the study suggests that further research is needed to understand the connection between bullying and environmental factors. Moreover, it emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration between family, school, and community in combating bullying, as well as the need for comprehensive strategies to be implemented at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.