Evaluation of peer bullying and it's contributions on children and adolescents who were assessed for psychiatric sypmtoms

Objective: Bullying is a problem which can effect all people in any evironment, one time or multiple times regardless of their age, sex, ethnic group, religious belief or socio-economical state and it is seen very commonly all around the world. Spreading of bullying in schools concerns all countries in the world and threatens the physical and mental health of children and adolescents. It is known that bullying is a serious traumatic experience for students, it's effects are not limited to school period and it has a negative impact on social health. In this study we aimed to evaluate peer bullying and it's contributions on children and adolescents with psychiatric symptoms; and to compare emotional and behavioral problems, between the bully or the victim of the bullying group and the non-bully or non-victim of bullying group. Method: Children and adolescents who were referred to Dokuz Eylül University Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department out-patient unit between April 2014 and August 2014 and between ages of 9 and 16 were included in the study. For case group 58 children and adolescents, for control group 56 children and adolescents were included in the study. Families of the children and adolescents who participated in the study were given a sociodemographic data form which was created by clinicians. Children and adoelscents were given Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire for students, Development and Well-being Assesment) - (DAWBA) which is a stuctured diagnostic tool applied on internet and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: Rates of smoking, substance use and physical abuse at home was found higher in the bully sub-group. General success rate was found lower in victim and victim/bully sub-groups. Psychiatric disorder diagnose rate was found significantly higher in case group compared to control group (p=0,002). ADHD diagnose rate was significantly higher in victim/bully sub-group (p=0,001). It was seen that students in victim group were more depressed than students in control group but the diffence between victim and control group was not statistically significant. It was assessed that 54,6% of victim/bully group and 11,8% of control group didn't love their school (p=0,015). Number of close friends of the children and adolescents in control group was significantly higher compared to case group (p=0,023). Conclusion: Peer bullying and/or being exposed to it is a serious problem for the healthy development of child's educational, social and emotional compatibility. In our study; results indicating the higher rates of correlation between children and adolescents with psychiatric disorder diagnosis and peer bullying are important regarding the precautions to be taken in this aspect. When the results are evaluated in the light of other similar studies in the literature; it is possible to say that there is a strong correlation between psychiatric symptoms and peer bullying. Healthier results could be obtained by conducting prospective studies with larger samples regarding the predictive power of psychiatric disorders and other psychosocial variables for peer bullying. When the situations resulting in bullying were defined; students can develop healthier relationships during their lives if appropriate multi-disciplinary interventions regarding the defined problem area were applied.