Effects of Physical and Psychological Bullying on Well-Being and Deviant Behavior of Adolescents

Despite the growing interest in school bullying and its consequences, there is a lack of studies which differentiate between various forms of bullying and their negative effects on victims. In this study it is analyzed how physical and psychological respectively relational forms of bullying affect well-being and deviant behavior of adolescents. Using data of a representative Germany-wide school survey with nearly 45,000 ninth grade school students (15 years on average), structural equation modeling is used to answer the research question. Teacher bullying, especially psychic bullying, is a distinct negative influencing factor of well-being and deviant behavior of adolescents. Relational bullying by schoolmates has a negative effect on well-being, physical bullying on violent behavior. Gender differences were not found for the most analyzed relationships. Particularly relational bullying and here psychic bullying by teachers should be integrated in anti-bullying-programs to a greater extend.