Associations among peer bullying, self-esteem, and self-care agency in high school students in Istanbul
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study aimed to examine the relationships between peer bullying, self-esteem, and self-care agency among high school students in Türkiye. This study was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional study and was conducted between March 1, 2025, and May 31, 2025, in a public high school in Istanbul. The study population consisted of 2,140 students, and the sample included 350 students selected using a stratified sampling method. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Peer Bullying Identification Scale (PBIS), the Self-Care Agency Scale (SCAS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The mean scores were 6.77±2.72 for RSES, 76.00±19.02 for SCAS, 61.20±20.76 for PBIS–Victim, and 55.37±19.48 for PBIS–Perpetrator. A significant positive correlation was found between self-esteem and self-care agency (r=0.613, p<0.01). Self-esteem was negatively correlated with all victimization subdimensions and total PBIS–Victim scores (r=−0.601 to −0.792, p<0.01), as well as with some perpetration dimensions (p<0.05). Similarly, self-care agency showed significant negative correlations with both victimization and perpetration scores (p<0.05). A positive correlation was observed between victimization and perpetration scores (r=0.708, p<0.01). The findings indicate that higher levels of peer bullying are associated with lower self-esteem and self-care agency among adolescents, while higher self-esteem is associated with stronger self-care capacity. These results suggest that school-based interventions should focus not only on reducing bullying but also on strengthening self-esteem and improving self-care skills to promote adolescent mental health.
Source: Discover Psychology
Authors: Sevde Aksu, Zeynep Özen
Institution: Balıkesir University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,590
OpenAlex ID: W7161575005