J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2016 Jun;25(2):147-154. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2016.25.2.147.

College Students' Interpersonal Problems and Mental Health according to Experience of Bullying and being Bullied

• Hyun MY

• KMID: 2327379
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2016.25.2.147

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the interpersonal problems andmental health of college students according to their experience of bullies and of being victims of bullying in childhood and adolescence.
METHODS
The questionnaire was completed by 221 college students in J city. Data were collected during November and December, 2015. The data were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics and ANOVA with the PASW Statistics 18.0 program.
RESULTS
Nearly 65% of participants reported having experienced bullying victimization, bullying perpetration when they were in elementary, middle or high school. Interpersonal problems were significantly different between victims or victim-perpetrator and a control group (F=13.12, p<.001). Mental health was significantly different between victims, perpetrator or victim-perpetrator and a control group, (F=13.15, p<.001).
CONCLUSION
Participants commonly reported experiencing bullying while at school and these reports were associated with higher interpersonal problems and lower levels ofmental health. Bullying experience needs further investigation as a preventable cause of interpersonal problems and mental health problems across the lifespan.

Keyword

Bullying; Interpersonal problems; Mental health; College students

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Bullying*
Crime Victims
Humans
Mental Health

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