Bullying Experience as a Predictor of Psychosocial Difficulty Score (SDQ) in Adolescents

Yunias Setiawati*, Royke Tony Kalalo, I Made Wedastra, Etty Christina Baboe, Dhenni Hartopo

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical developmental stage often disrupted by bullying, a pervasive public health issue linked to adverse psychological outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between bullying experiences and psychosocial difficulty scores among ninth-grade students at A junior high school in East Java, Indonesia. Using a cross-sectional design, 106 students (54.7% female, 45.3% male; aged 13–16 years) completed the Olweus Bully Questionnaire (OBQ) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Bullying exposure was categorized into none, mild (1–2 types), and moderate-severe (≥3 types). Chi-square analysis revealed a significant association between bullying experiences and higher SDQ scores (p<0.05), with a clear dose-response pattern: students exposed to multiple bullying types were more likely to report elevated psychosocial difficulties. Public humiliation (p=0.002) and threats/coercion (p=0.008) were the strongest predictors of high SDQ scores, followed by social exclusion (p=0.015) and physical violence (p=0.038). These findings confirm bullying as a strong predictor of psychosocial problems, highlighting the urgent need for school-based interventions that address not only physical but also psychological and relational forms of bullying. Preventive strategies should integrate educators, parents, and policymakers to foster safer learning environments and support adolescent mental health.

Keywords

bully; adolescent; psychosocial strength; mental health.

Cite This Article

Setiawati, Y., Kalalo, R. T., Wedastra, I. M., Baboe, E. C., Hartopo, D. (2025). Bullying Experience as a Predictor of Psychosocial Difficulty Score (SDQ) in Adolescents. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 6| Issue 5: Sep – Oct 2025, Pages 926-929 URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Volume6-Issue5-Sep-Oct-No.952-926-929.pdf

Volume 6 | Issue 5: Sep – Oct 2025