The Hidden Wounds of Bullying: Investigating Psychological Distress and Suicidal Thoughts in Adolescents

Author(s): Arti Shukla and Dr. Chitra Pandey

Abstract:

Bullying continues to be a pervasive problem within school contexts and has serious psychological repercussions among adolescents. The current study explores the associations between bullying victimization, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation among school-going adolescents. The study uses responses from a sample of secondary and higher secondary students to examine how levels of verbal, physical, and relational bullying contribute to increased emotional discomfort and self-harm tendencies. Standardized psychological questionnaires were used to measure the level of distress and suicidal ideas, while demographic and contextual factors like gender, age, and socio-economic status were explored as moderating variables. Results: Adolescents who face bullying very frequently report significantly higher depression, anxiety, and ideation about suicide than adolescents who are not victimized. The results underpin the urgent need for school-based mental health intervention, awareness programs, and supportive peer environments for mitigating the long-term deleterious psychological effects associated with bullying. This research underlines the crucial role of early identification and counseling measures in combating the invisible psychological trauma that bullying inflicts upon its victims within an educational framework.

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Pages: 07-10     |    3 View     |    0 Download