The relationship between family relationships and peer bullying among middle school students

This study was designed to examine the relationship between the quality of family relationships and exposure to peer bullying and exhibiting bullying behaviour among secondary school students.

The study is a descriptive correlational study. It was conducted with 605 students in grades 5,6,7,8 at three secondary schools in western Turkey. Data were collected using face-to- face questionnaires, including a Demographic Information Form, the Peer Bullying Identification Scale, and the Family Relationships Scale for Children. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, nonparametric tests, and Spearman correlation analysis.

The mean age of the students was 12.25 ± 1.96, 29.8% were in the 5th grade, and 45.1% had families with below-average income levels. The average bullying score on the Bullying-Victimization Identification Scale was 131.39 ± 25.61, the average victimization score was 121.14 ± 30.33, the average inhibiting family relationships score was 23.25 ± 4.68, and the average supportive family relationships score was 16.41 ± 4.75. Bullying-victimization scores were found to have a weak positive correlation with inhibiting family relationships and a weak negative correlation with supportive family relationships. The regression models predicting bullying and victimization scores were significant, with an explanatory power of 9.8% for bullying and 9.9% for victimization.

Bullying and victimization behaviours among secondary school students were found to be associated with family relationships and sociodemographic characteristics. Inhibiting family relationships were associated with higher bullying and victimization scores, whereas supportive family relationships were associated with lower bullying and victimization scores. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness among families and implement multidimensional interventions through school staff and nurses.