Peer bullying and substance abuse among first grade university students

Abstract

Aim. Peer bullying is defined as systematic, deliberate, intentional, and periodic agressive acts inflicted by physically or psychologically stronger children on their weaker peers without any evidence of provocation. In our study, we investigated the incidence of the peer bullying among university students, diversity and the relationship between of the peer bullying and substance use and socio-demographic characteristics. Method. Our study was conducted between April, 11 and May 20, 2011 with 2177 undergraduates training in Faculty of Education, Economics, Administrative Sciences, and Faculty of Science and Literature localized at Central Campus of Gaziosmanpaşa University using cluster sampling method. Based on the results obtained from previous prevalence studies, working with a 45% sampling distribution was decided upon. Accordingly, questionnaire surveys were applied on 985 students in their classrooms under the observance of a supervisor, and statistical analyses were performed on 964 completed questionnaire forms. Results. Two thirds of our study participants were first grade female students. Mean age of the participants was 19.8±1.6 years. A 10% of all students were smokers, 6.9% of them were using alcohol. Currently 0.4% of them were heroin, and cocaine users, while a very small percentage of the students were using thinner (0.4%) and cannabis (0.5%). Some of the male students stated that they could fight for their girl friends (32%) or for any friend (30%). A 22.3% of all the participants who were mostly male (40.8%) and at a lesser proportion female (13.4%) students expressed that they could fight frequently, and incessantly with those who would swear at them. Apart from verbal violence, in all types of violence, incidence of exposure to violent behaviours has observedly risen in line with the educational level of parents. Mostly among substance abusers (88.9%), then alcohol, and tobacco addicts have been exposed to physical violence in decreasing order. Verbal violence was directed mainly to alcohol abusers, while smokers were predominantly subjected to emotional violence. Conclusion. In our study a significant correlation was found between alcohol, and other substance abuses and increased incidence of bullying. In fact, in many studies performed, an association between substance abuse, and criminal acts has been revealed. Social, and individual awareness about the relationship between the substance use, and tendency to commit criminal acts should be created via informative programs encompassing both users, and their families. Keywords:Peer bullying, substance use, school, risk factors Özet Amaç. Akran zorbalığı, içerisinde kışkırtma unsuru olmaksızın aralarında fiziksel ya da psikolojik açıdan güç eşitsizliği olan çocuklardan güçlünün karşı tarafa bilerek ve isteyerek, kasıtlı, sistemli bir biçimde belli zaman aralıkları ile uyguladığı saldırılar olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada üniversite öğrencileri arasında akran zorbalığının sıklığı, çeşitliliği ile akran zorbalığının madde kullanım...