Abstract:

Purpose: Peer bullying is a global problem. Peer bullying, which can take various forms such as name-calling, ostracism, gossiping, damaging one's property, hitting or pushing, is a persistent problem in school children's lives that affects all exposed students (i.e. bully, victim, and bystander). Bullying is when someone who feels powerful/superior to others for whatever reason, uses their "power" in an aggressive way to target another person they see as somehow weaker/vulnerable than they are, with repeated, deliberate, unwanted words or actions. Victims who are targets of bullies are either physically or emotionally hurt and find it difficult to stop what is happening to them on their own. Being bullied by peers it can have short- and long-term negative consequences for all individuals exposed to the events. When bullying incidents are not intervened at the schools, the effects of bullying continue into adulthood. For this reason, it is important to investigate bullying behaviors experienced from an early age and the relationship between children's anxiety and social anxiety levels for developing policies and intervention programs to prevent peer bullying. The aim of this study is to determine the type and frequency of peer bullying behaviors in Cankiri and to examine the relationship between peer bullying and children's anxiety and social anxiety levels. Method: The research was conducted with cluster sampling method in two primary schools and on 590 students. Data were collected using the Peer Bullying Scale Child Form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised Form. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program through descriptive analyses. type of bullying, and in case of bullying, the victims mostly get help from their family or an adult at school. Findings: In the study, it was found that approximately one fourth of primary school students were exposed to peer bullying, and victim and bullying behaviors differed according to gender, chronic illness, divorce of parents and grade level. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between victim scores and bullying, trait anxiety and social anxiety scores. Implications: Regular examination of bullying behaviors in schools and teaching victims and bystanders what to do in case of bullying can reduce bullying-related depression and anxiety. Originality: The research is the first study on the frequency of peer bullying in Çankırı.

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