Bullying problem among high school students: The impact of school life

Bullying has been recognized as a worldwide problem. Despite the growing popularity of bullying research, relatively few studies have investigated school bullying in Northern Cyprus. This study has two aims. The first aim is to observe the frequency of bullying among North Cyprus adolescents. The second aim is to test the relationship between school life (receiving disciplinary punishment, grade repetition and liking school) and bullying. Quantitative data were collected through Olweus Bullying and Victimization Questionnaire and personal information form developed by the researchers. Frequencies, percentages and chi-square statistical technique were used for analyzing the data. The participants were 836 students aged 15 to 18 years. The results showed that 9% of all students were bullies, 12.2% were victims, and 5.6% were bully/victims. Statistical results revealed boys bully others and being victims more often than girls. This research also revealed that grade repetition, receiving at least once school punishment, and disliking schools have a significant effect on bullying. Notably, the ratio of victims who received disciplinary punishment (17.6%) was higher than that for bullies (14.5%) and bully/victims (9.4%). Before implementing interventions to prevent and intervene bullying occurs in school settings, it is necessary to identity the nature of bullying.