Bullying victimization, depression and substance use among lower secondary school adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: For years, school going adolescents have been involved with bullying behaviors including perpetration and victimization. However, recent studies suggest that bullying victimization may be associated with health problems among lower secondary school adolescents. In this study therefore, bullying victimization was examined in relationship with depression and substance use. Method: A systematic random sampling strategy was used in the selection of 201 senior four students (43.8% males and 56.2% females) from four secondary schools in central division Kampala district. The study employed a correlation research design where Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the first three study hypothesis, and then Baron and Kenny (1986) regression method used in testing the fourth hypotheses. Results: The outcome of this study indicated that while bullying victimization was significantly related to depression (r = .299**, p=.000 <0.01), there was no significant relationship between bullying victimization and substance use (r= -.051, p=.471 >0.01), neither was there an association between depression and substance use (r = .133, p=.060 >0.01). When it came to the fourth hypothesis, depression did not mediate the relationship between bullying victimization and substance use; the independent variable did not correlate with the dependent variable in the first step. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that students who experience bullying victimization are most likely to become depressed. Putting guidelines in place to monitor and discourage bullying victimization may help learners‟ study in a safer environment.