Social anxiety and anti-social practices among victims of bullying in light of some demographic variables

Abstract EN

This study aims to explore the relationship between bullying victimization in childhood and the development of subsequent social anxiety and anti- social practices, in light of five demographic variables (gender, social economic status, parental status, school achievement and social isolation).

A sample of 400 participants, with ages between 15- 18 years, was recruited for the study.

The sample was taken from three different regions in Occupied Palestine (Zemmer, Jatt and Baqa), and all participants were only Arabs.

The Bullying- Victimization Scale, Social Anxiety Scale, and Anti- Social Practices Scale were administered.

The researchers used: Means and Standard Deviations, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis.

The results showed the following: There is a higher level of anti-social practices and social anxiety among victims of bullying, when compared with non-victims.

There is a significant positive correlation between bullying victimization in childhood and the development of subsequent anti-social practices and social anxiety.

Bullying victimization in childhood has higher prediction rates of anti-social practices, when compared with social anxiety.

There is a correlation only between gender and anti-social practices.

There is a significant correlation only between gender, social economic status, and social anxiety.