Ottobre 2014 - Volume XXXIII - numero 8
Pagine elettroniche
1Dipartimento di Pedagogia, Psicologia e Filosofia,
Università di Cagliari
2Dipartimento di Pedagogia, Psicologia e Filosofia,
Università di Cagliari e Facoltà di Medicina e Psicologia,
Università “La Sapienza”, Roma
Indirizzo per corrispondenza: pedditzi@unica.it
Key words: Early adolescence, Bullying, Victimization, Depressive risk
Background - Cross-sectional and longitudinal international
studies have explored the relationship between bullying and
depression, showing a close link between victimization and depression.
In 2008 CENSIS data emphasized that in Italy
49.9% of parents indicate the occurrence of bullying in the
classes attended by their children.
Objectives - The aim of the present study was to evidence bullying
in a sample of students in their early adolescence, to
analyse bullying and victimization with respect to depressive
risk and to evidence the relationship among bullying, victimization
and depressive risk.
Materials and methods - 157 students in their early adolescence
(mean age=12.5) filled in the Bullying Questionnaire by Olweus
and the Children’s Depression Inventory by Kovacs. The questionnaires
were handed out to the randomly selected class
groups during a time agreed with the school teachers.
Results - The explored sample showed the presence of bullying
(31.8% of bullying others, and 15.9% of being bullied); there
were not significant differences with respect to the gender.
14.6% of the students in the investigated sample was at depressive
risk for scores over the cut-off, 18% and 32% respectively
of the bullies and the victims of bullying students were at
depressive risk for scores over the cut-off. Therefore, the correlation
between victimization and depression was positive and
significant and the correlation between bullying and depression
was also positive and significant, but moderate.
Conclusions - The results of the present study pointed out that
bullies and victims are at increased risk for affective disorders.
Moreover, the study highlighted the need for early assessment
of bullying and victimization and for targeted interventions by
health professionals and school personnel. Such interventions
are likely to reduce human suffering and long-term health costs
and provide a safer environment for children to grow up in.
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