Peer Victimization among School Children

Abstract

In present scenario victimization has become a matter of great concern in schools. In this paper researcher will discuss about peer victimization among children which can be defined as children experiencing spiritual, physical, or property damage from a person or group in a aggressive and unfriendly environment. Peer victimization associated with many types of adjustment difficulties. Students who are constant victims of school bullying often rejected by their peers and they feel depressed, anxious, and lonely. Thus the aim of the present study was to assess the peer victimization among school children. The present study was undertaken on 1070 children (570 rural and 500 urban) of secondary and senior secondary schools of Hisar district of Haryana state. The study was conducted with all children enrolled in classes 6th to 10th from six selected schools (three schools from urban area and three schools from rural area i.e. Ladwa). Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale was used to assess the victimization among school children. Children were personally interviewed about their victimization behaviour. Frequency, percentages and Chi-square test were used to analyse the data. The results of the study highlighted that there was no association between peer victimization and ruralurban setting but among boys and girls there was association between sex of child and peer victimization and found to be significant. Further, results depicted that majority of children were mildly victimized. Percentage of boys was greater in moderate and severe peer victimization behaviour as compared to girls.