Degree Level of Bullying Felt by Grade 11 Academic Track Students and Coping Strategies to

Minimize Bullying at Mariveles Senior High School- Sitio Mabuhay 2022-2023

Review of Related Literature

This section presents a review of related literature on the causes of physical, social, and cyber

bullying in local and foreign settings, which significantly impact the present study.

According to Rigby (2007), bullying is now widely recognized as a serious problem that affects

many children in schools. It can take many forms, including direct verbal and physical harassment and

indirect forms such as deliberate exclusion and the targeting of individuals using cyber technology. Even

though this type of abuse affects many of our schools children, Ken Rigby believes that there are grounds

for optimism. Teachers, parents, school leaders, policy makers and health professionals will find it

invaluable and empowering.

Rettew and Pawlowski (2016) agreed that for decades, the experience of being bullied as a child

has been viewed as an unpleasant but generally harmless rite of passage that carries with it long-term

consequences. Portrayals of bullying in countless books and movies depict the bully eventually meets

with justice.

Prevalence rates of having bullied others or having been bullied at school for at least once in the

last 2 months were 20.8% physically, 53.6% verbally, 51.4% socially or 13.6% electronically. Boys were

more involved in physical or verbal bullying, while girls were more involved in relational bullying. Boys

were more likely to be cyber bullies, while girls were more likely to be cyber victims. African-American

adolescents were involved in more bullying (physical, verbal or cyber) but less victimization (verbal or

relational). Higher parental support was associated with less involvement across all forms and

classifications of bullying. Having more friends was associated with more bullying and less victimization
for physical, verbal and relational forms, but was not associated with cyber bullying. (Journal of

Adolescent Health, 2009)

In the Philippines, 50 percent of students experience bullying. Not all offenses against people are

harmful. People or organizations that are bullying is the use of force against a weaker opponent.

Aggressive actions are actions are regarded as bullying, repeated and with less precision by a powerful

individual or group of people. Aggressive behavior with the intent of harm, discomfort both physically

and emotionally, including peer pressure, is a measure of fear or intimidation, aggression. (Cascardia,

2014)

Huang F.L. (2017) said that verbal bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone

uses language to intentionally harm or intimidate another person. This can include insults, name-calling,

teasing, mocking, threatening, or making derogatory comments about someone’s race, gender, sexuality,

religion, or physical appearance.

Furthermore, verbal bullying can have negative psychological effects on the victims. For

instance, a study by Holt and Espelage (2007) found that verbal bullying was associated with higher

levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among middle school students.

Aside verbal, bullying suggests that being victimized by peer is significantly related to

comparatively low-level of psychological distrust and adverse physical health symptoms that peer

victimization may continue to later difficulties with health and well-being.

Social bullying, or the use of social exclusion, gossip, and other indirect tactics to harm others, is

a pervasive problem among adolescents. The purpose of this meta-analytic review is to synthesize the

existing literature on the prevalence and correlates of social bullying and victimization in adolescents.

Findings from 46 studies indicate that social bullying and victimization are prevalent among adolescents,

with girls and younger adolescents reporting higher levels of involvement. Social skills deficits, low self-

esteem, and poor relationships with peers are among the factors associated with increased risk for social

bullying and victimization. Implications for prevention and intervention efforts are discussed. (Journal of

Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 2010)

 Findings from 16 studies suggest that social bullying is significantly related to increased levels of

anxiety in adolescents. However, the nature of this relationship is complex and may be influenced by

factors such as gender, age, and the specific form of social bullying experienced. Implications for

intervention and prevention efforts are discussed. (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2019).

Moreover, the results from the study of Swearer et al… (2012), with a from a sample of 208

adolescents suggest that social bullying is significantly related to increased levels of depression, and that

this relationship is partially mediated by low levels of social support. The results highlight the importance

of social support as a protective factor for adolescents who experience social bullying.

Meanwhile, J., Pyzalski et al… (2022) mentioned that cyber bullying poses a serious risk to

young people’s social and psychological well-being. Because of this, it is critical to understand how

individuals view the phenomenon of cyberbullying, how they pinpoint its roots, how they feel about

support, and how they feel about the available preventive methods. Most commonly, “any behavior

conducted through electronic or digital means by individuals or groups that regularly sends hostile or

violent messages meant to inflict pain or discomfort to others” is how cyberbullying is characterized. This

includes a wide range of various private and public means, such as texts, films, and online identity theft,

which maybe varying victimization potential. Bullying has been linked to serious mental health issues in

all actors involved- perpetrators, bystanders, but especially, victims who frequently experience,

depressive symptoms, psychosomatic issues, long term anxiety, lower academic achievement. This is true

of both online and offline bullying (without ICT involvement).

One study by Kowalski et al… (2014) found that teenagers who experience cyberbullying had

higher level of anxiety, depression, and suicide thoughts. In accordance to this, those who experience

bullying are more prone to participate in harmful activities including substance and self-harm.

In addition, Hinduja and Patchin (2018) stated that cyberbullying is a growing problem among

young people, with nearly one-third of teenage reporting that they have been victims of cyberbullying.

This study also found that cyberbullying is often underreported, and that many victims suffer in silence.
 Based on the study of I. Smith et al… (2008), responses from 677 high school students on

interpersonal youth violence and risk and protective factors were utilized in this study. More than 1 in a

youth (156.1%) had been victims of cyberbullying last year. A multifaceted approach is needed to reduce

and prevent cyberbullying. School, family, and community programs that strengthen positive

relationships and promote safe use of technology provide promise for reducing cyberbullying.