Psychosocial characteristics and the mental health of adolescent bullies in Lichtenburg High School

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of psychosocial characteristics and the mental health of adolescent bullies in Lichtenburg High School. The study was anchored on five hypotheses: (1) There will be a significant main effect for the permissive parenting styles on the mental health of adolescent bullies. Therefore, adolescent bullies with permissive parents will report poor mental health compared to adolescent bullies who perceived their parents as less permissive. (2) Bullies exposed to the authoritarian parenting styles will report poorer mental health than those with a low authoritarian parenting style. (3) There will be a significant main effect for the authoritative parenting style on the mental health of adolescent bullies. ( 4) There will be a significant relationship between gender and mental health of adolescent bullies. Male adolescent bullies will report poor mental health compared to female adolescent bullies. (5) Bullies with low self-esteem will report poor mental health compared to those with high self-esteem. Therefore, a significant main effect will be noted for gender on mental health of adolescent bullies. In this study a questionnaire with five sections - A, B, C, D and E were used. Section A contained the biographical information of gender, age and race. The items in Section B were used to identify bullies and non-bullies. Section C contained the family dynamics that constituted the parenting style scale. Section D contained the general health questionnaire. A 12-scale format was used to measure mental health with two sub-scales, namely-depression/anxiety and social dysfunction. Section E contained self-esteem measuring by using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Psychometric properties of all the scales used are valid and reliable. Two hundred and seventy three (273) participants (male =133, female= 140) were selected, based on an availability sample in Lichtenburg High School in the North-West Province. However, only the data from the 170 participants exhibiting bullying behaviour (based on the bullying questionnaire) was included in the statistical analysis. The hundred and seventy (170) participants (male = 97, female= 73) ranged in age from 13-18 years, with the mean age (X-bar = 15.64) (SD= 1.630). The hypotheses of this study were tested with 2x2x2 ANOV A and 2x2 ANOV A. Results indicated a significant main effect of an authoritative parenting style as well as an authoritarian parenting style on the mental health of adolescent bullies. There was a significant interaction effect of the authoritarian and the authoritative styles on the mental health of adolescent bullies. Higher levels of permissiveness could be associated with poorer mental health, whilst higher levels of authoritarian parenting styles were associated with better mental health. The results of hypothesis four and five indicated a significant main effect of gender, as well as self-esteem on the mental health of adolescent bullies. The interaction effect of gender and self-esteem did not have a significant main effect on mental health. In conclusion, the study has contributed to the body of knowledge by showing that there is a relationship between parenting styles and self-esteem on the mental health of adolescent bullies. It has also been noted that parenting styles and self-esteem can have a greater impact on the mental health of adolescent bullies in the general population. A cognitively-based intervention regarding bullying must be developed and offered to the bullies as well as the victims of bullying who present with a variety of mental health issues. Other preventative recommendations have been made in line with the findings of the study.