Bullying and self-esteem in adolescents

Abstract

This study analyzed the influence of bullying behaviors on adolescents’ self-esteem, considering sex and educational level variables. The research employed a quantitative and cross-sectional methodology, with a sample of 303 adolescents (158 females and 144 males) aged between 12 and 20 years (M = 14.54; SD = 1.86) from a secondary school in northern Portugal. Three instruments were used: a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Physical and Psychological Bullying Questionnaire. Aggressive behaviors, more prevalent in males, were associated with high self-esteem, challenging the ‘Aggression Compensation Model’ theory. The study also highlighted different bullying patterns between sexes, with boys tending more towards physical aggression and girls towards relational forms of bullying. These results contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics between bullying and self-esteem in adolescence, suggesting the need for sex-specific interventions and the importance of considering high levels of self-esteem as a possible risk factor for aggressive behaviors.