Effects of bullying on symptoms of depression and anxiety, the importance of parental support

Over the years bullying has increased dramatically and a significant number of children are involved in bullying, either as victims or as bullies themselves. Research has found bullying to be associated with self reported symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescents while parental support is associated with lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms among adolescents. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate further the relationship between bullying and symptoms of depression and anxiety and whether this relationship varied dependent on parental support. The relationship between parental support and the frequency of bullying was also investigated. The present study used archival data “Ungt Fólk 2004” (Youth in Iceland 2004) collected by The Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis. Participants in the study were students from 29 high schools in Iceland, 952 boys and 1.012 girls (22 participants did not register their sex). The results showed that bullying was associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety among the adolescents while parental support decreased these symptoms. Parental support also reduced bullying. The results also showed that the effects of bullying did not vary dependent on parental support. Key words: Bullying, depression, anxiety, parental support

Author dc:creator

• Elísa Þorsteinsdóttir 1989-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Sálfræði
• Einelti
• Þunglyndi
• Kvíði
• Foreldrar
• Stuðningsúrræði
• Psychology
• Bullying
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Parenting

Language dc:language.iso

is

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1946/19418

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/19418