BULLYING: INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF SHS

IN A PRIVATE AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY

Members:

Alcantara, Angela

Amadeo, Angel Mae

Guzman, Mark Jonel

Marfil, Steven Joseph

Nacario, Nicole Shine

Paloma, Artemio Jr.

Ricardo, John Gaulbert

Villacruz, Emie Rose

A Qualitative Research

Presented To

Our Lady Of Fatima University

Senior High School University

March, 2023 .

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 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

   Bullying in schools is a worldwide issue that has a negative impact on the health and development of
both victims and perpetrators. This study looked at the relationship between bullying victims and certain
psychological variables among secondary school students (SHS). Young people who are bullied are more
likely to suffer from negative social and educational results, and these problems may worsen when black
young people who are victimized also experience racism or discrimination. Bullying incidents among
school students have increased, which has negative consequences such as mental health issues and a
higher risk of suicide. Bullying interventions are still primarily focused on independent implementation.
Bullying among school-age children is still a public health concern, and it is associated with a variety of
short-and-long-term psychological, social, and academic challenges for all young people involved,
including victims, bullies, and witnesses of bullies ( Threlfall, et. al, 2023 ).

          School bullying is associated with numerous physical, mental and social sufferings. There is also a
relationship between bullying behavior by students and school issues such as academic performance,
school bonds and absence. The prevention of school bullying should become a priority for schools. The
most effective methods of reducing bullying include an integrated approach in schools. This Methodology
Includes assessing the problem, planning school conference days, providing belter supervision during
holidays, forming a coordinating group to prevent bullying, encouraging parent-teacher meetings,
establishing classroom rules against bullying, holding classroom meetings bullying, requiring dialogue
with the bullying victim and the parents of the students concerned, and arranging conversations with the
parents (Joseph, et. al, 2009).

          The goal of this thesis is to understand what effects bullying can bring on the life of an individual
and its general well-being. A part of the goal is to acquire knowledge about the factors and what
preventive measures should be taken to somehow lessen the cases caused by this behavior. This thesis
will broaden the way we perceive the issue of bullying and it will open up realizations about things about
bullying like the reasons why people are engaging in this kind of activity. Bullying and society are related
to each other and how bullying impacts or change the way people live in the society will also be
explained in this study. The concept of bullying will also be explained in this study, the concept that has a
bit of similarity from that of the law of the jungle or the survival of the fittest. Where the strong ones
preys on the weak ones and that process will go on repetitively and the strong ones were the only one that
will be left.

          Bullying can have serious detrimental effects on the mental health of students, especially bullying
in high school students can have a profound negative impact on the mental health of SHS students in a
private autonomous university. It is important for educators, parents, and mental health professionals to
work together to prevent bullying and to provide support to students who have been affected by it.
Therefore, a possible contribution to this study is to conduct a comprehensive literature review of the
existing research on bullying and mental health, specifically focusing on the SHS (Senior High School)
population in private universities. This literature review can aid in identifying the key factors that
contribute to this study, including the type of bullying behavior, the demographic characteristics of the
bully and the victim, and the environmental factors that may contribute to this behavior.

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to investigate the effect of bullying on the mental health of Senior High School (SHS)
students in a private autonomous university.

Specifically, this research aims to address the following questions:

Research Question 1. What is the reason why someone is being bullied and why is someone doing the
bullying? 

Research Question 2. Does the social class also affect by bullied?

Research Question 3. How bad the bullying affects to the person's life and well-being? 

Research Question 4. What are the different forms of bullying experienced by Senior High School
students in a private autonomous university?

Research Question 5. What is most effective solution to prevent bullying Senior high school?

SCOPES AND DELIMITATIONS

The scope of this study is to investigate the effects of bullying on the mental health of Senior High School
(SHS) students in a private autonomous university. The study will focus on the experiences of SHS
students who have been bullied, including the types of bullying they have experienced and the impact on
their mental health. The study will also explore the coping mechanisms used by these students to manage
the effects of bullying on their mental health. This study is limited to the Senior High School students
enrolled in a private autonomous university. The study will focus only on the effects of bullying on the
mental health of these students and will not cover other aspects of their mental health or other factors that
may contribute to their mental health. The study will also exclude other levels of education in the
university such as college students or graduate students. Qualitative research is appropriate for this study
because it aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of SHS students who have been bullied and its
impact on their mental health. The study will involve in-depth interviews with students, which will allow
the researcher to gather rich, detailed data about the students' experiences and perspectives. Through this
method, the researcher can explore the subjective meaning that the students attach to their experiences of
bullying and the impact it has on their mental health. Qualitative research will also allow the researcher to
identify themes and patterns in the data that may not be captured by quantitative research methods.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Bullying is a widespread problem that can have a profound impact on the mental health of students,
leading to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and poor academic performance.
The study's findings and recommendations can help students, educators, and parents to identify, prevent
and manage bullying effectively. The research highlights the various forms of bullying and their
detrimental effects on mental health, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, among others.
The significance of this research extends beyond just raising awareness and providing information. It can
be used as a reference for students who are experiencing or witnessing bullying, as well as for educators
and parents who play a crucial role in preventing bullying in schools. The study's recommendations,
which focus on creating a positive school climate, implementing anti-bullying programs, and providing

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mental health support, can guide schools and communities in developing effective strategies to address
bullying and promote students' well-being. In summary, the research is essential to students as it provides
insight, raises awareness, and offers practical solutions to address bullying and improve their mental
health.
Furthermore, the study on the impact of bullying is significant for future researchers as it can have a
profound effect on our understanding of this complex issue. Research in this area can also have a practical
application, as the findings can be used to inform policies and practices in schools and other settings to
prevent and address bullying. Future researchers who study bullying's impact can work with advocacy
groups, schools, and other organizations to develop and implement evidence-based programs and
interventions. Conducting research on the impact of bullying can help future researchers develop empathy
and understanding for individuals who have experienced bullying. This can lead to personal growth and
an increased ability to work effectively with individuals who have experienced trauma.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

To facilitate the understanding of this research, terms are defined herein.

[Link]: "Bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior by an individual or group that is
intended to cause harm, distress, or fear among others" (Olweus, 1993).
[Link]: "Investigating refers to the process of conducting a systematic inquiry or examination of
a particular phenomenon or problem to gather data, identify patterns, and draw conclusions" (Merriam-
Webster, n.d.).
[Link]: "Effect refers to the result or outcome of a particular action or event" (Oxford Languages, n.d.).
[Link] Health: "Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own abilities,
can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to
their community" (World Health Organization, 2014).
[Link] High School (SHS): "Senior high school refers to the last two years of the K-12 education
program, which is mandatory for all students in the Philippines" (Department of Education, 2013).

CHAPTER 2

THE REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES AND LITERATURE

LOCAL
The prevalence of bullying and its impact on academic achievement among secondary school students in
Nigeria" by Chima J. Korieh and Esther N. Ujaddughe (2018): This study examined the prevalence of
bullying and its impact on academic achievement among secondary school students in Nigeria and found
that bullying was associated with lower academic achievement.

Bullying in Filipino schools: prevalence, predictors, and its impact on the mental health of students" by
Ma. Regina M. Hechanova et al. (2019): This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of bullying
in Filipino schools and found that bullying was associated with poorer mental health outcomes among
students.

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Bullying victimization and mental health problems among Filipino adolescents: the role of family
support" by Charisma T. Cagande et al. (2019): This study explored the relationship between bullying
victimization, mental health problems, and family support among Filipino adolescents and found that
family support played a protective role against the negative impact of bullying on mental health.

School bullying in Malaysia: prevalence and its impact on students' well-being" by Zulkifli Mohamad et
al. (2020): This study examined the prevalence of school bullying in Malaysia and its impact on students'
well-being and found that bullying was associated with lower levels of well-being among students.

Bullying and academic performance among high school students in the Philippines" by Mary Ann C.
Gajo and Clarissa A. Villanueva (2021): This study investigated the relationship between bullying and
academic performance among high school students in the Philippines and found that bullying was
negatively associated with academic performance.

Overall, these local studies demonstrate the negative impact of bullying on various aspects of Filipino
students' well-being, including academic achievement, mental health, and overall well-being. These
findings highlight the need for effective prevention and intervention strategies to address the problem of
bullying in Filipino schools.

FOREIGN

The impact of bullying on psychological well-being: a longitudinal study of college students" by Alexia
M. Markowitz et al. (2018): This study investigated the impact of bullying on psychological well-being
among college students and found that bullying was associated with poorer psychological well-being over
time.
The impact of bullying victimization on academic performance: evidence from a longitudinal study" by
John M. Santos et al. (2019): This longitudinal study examined the impact of bullying victimization on
academic performance and found that bullying victimization was associated with lower academic
performance over time.
The impact of bullying on social anxiety: a systematic review" by Mollie R. Canzona et al. (2020): This
systematic review examined the impact of bullying on social anxiety and found that bullying was
associated with higher rates of social anxiety.
Bullying in the workplace and its impact on health outcomes: a meta-analytic review" by Melissa M.
Amick et al. (2021): This meta-analytic review examined the impact of workplace bullying on health
outcomes and found that workplace bullying was associated with poorer mental and physical health
outcomes among employees.
Bullying and mental health problems among adolescents: a meta-analysis" by Katherine R. Faust et al.
(2021): This meta-analysis examined the relationship between bullying and mental health problems
among adolescents and found that bullying was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and
other mental health problems.
Overall, these foreign studies demonstrate the negative impact of bullying on various aspects of
individuals' well-being, including psychological well-being, academic performance, social anxiety, and
mental and physical health. These findings highlight the need for effective prevention and intervention
strategies to address

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

In this conceptual framework, this addresses the input, process, and outcome of this research
about the effects of bullying on students in a private autonomous university. First, in the input this
explains what the researchers already know about in this research, the reasons on why bullying is
happening, why someone does the bullying and some is being bullied, its affects on bullying, it affects on
the mental health and social well-being. What kinds of bullying students experience, and the solutions of
preventing bullying in school.

Then, in the process of this research is the method of thematic analysis. It emphasizes identifying,
analyzing and interpreting patterns of meaning (or "themes") within qualitative data (Braun et al, 2006
(Qualitative Research in Psychology). This is done by conducting interviews with respondents, data
collection and organization, and analysis and interpretation of data.

Lastly, the outcome of this research is to understand the effect of bullying on students, solutions
of stopping bullying in school, and prevention of bullying, creating an inclusive and acceptable
environment in schools. This is evident from the bullying prevention and intervention program in
JFBSHS. It aims to ensure that learners have a positive learning climate that is “inclusive and accepting,
regardless of ethnicity, religion, social status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender experience,
age, or disability” (DEPED & JFBSHS, 2018).  

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THEOREATICAL FRAMEWORK

Bullying has become a national epidemic and the behavior of bullying can be examined by
looking at it through the lens of Social Learning theory. According to the social learning theory as
described in Berger, (2015) it's an extension of behaviorism that emphasizes the influence that other
people have over a person's behavior, stating that every person learns through observation and imitating
other people's behavior. This means the bullying behavior was learned by his/her imitation of someone
else or a group of other people.

According to (Swearer, et. al, 2014) Social learning theory also knows as social cognitive theory
can be used to explained aggressive bullying behaviors, for example youth who are exposed to domestic
violence in the home are more likely to bully others than those who aren't exposed to domestic violence
and the same goes with children who socialize with aggressive peers: they are more likely to show
aggressive behaviors toward others than those who do not socialize with aggressive peers. It is apparent
that students who bully others is a result of what they see or what is being done to them. They are hurting
and the root is unresolved emotional issues from witnessing violence in their homes or from their peers or
both.

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This study about the issue of bullying is conducted to provide data and information to explain
various topics related to this kind of behavior. Bullying is a severe public health issue that may result in
both verbal as well as physical harm and it can cause different kinds of anxieties and other mental health
conditions to an individual. Therefore, a study about this particular issue is crucial in order to establish a
database for policies and other measures intended for the prevention of this kind of behavior and its
detrimental impact. This study is intended to help gather information and develop a certain way to
somehow prevent if not completely to eradicate the issue of bullying. This part of the study will explain
how the study was designed, how the data were collected, the target population, the sampling technique
that was used, type of research instrument, and the statistical treatment.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The qualitative approach will be used by the researchers. This approach enables researchers to understand
the perceptions and experiences of respondents in order to collect data. This studies lived experiences to
gain deeper insights into how people understand those experiences. They interpret the participants’
feelings, perceptions, and beliefs to clarify the essence of the phenomenon under investigation. 

          The research will conduct this study using phenomenological design, which requires the researchers
to bracket whatever a priori assumption they have about the experience or phenomenon. In simple terms,
this method is to understand a phenomenon's universal nature by exploring the views of those who have
experienced it. This method is popularly used to study lived experience, gain a deeper understanding of
how human beings think, and expand a researcher’s knowledge about a phenomenon (Limpaecher et. al,
2022).

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RESEARCH LOCALE

This study was conducted in a private autonomous university located in a metropolitan area in the
Philippines. Metropolitan area, also called Metropolis is a Greek word, meaning "mother city." It is a
major city together with its suburbs and nearby cities, towns, and environs, over which the major city
exercises a commanding economic and social influence. This place was selected to determine the
effectiveness of the study. The researchers will conduct an on-site interview to the students who
experienced bullying in order to gather data about the effects of bullying on mental health.

RESEARCH SUBJECT

This study aimed to investigate the impact of bullying on the mental health of senior high school
students in Our Lady of Fatima University. The participants in this study were 10 senior high school
students, aged 18 years old above, enrolled in the said university were selected based on the availability
of their consent to participate in the study, their willingness to answer the survey questions. In this case,
the researcher specifically targeted SHS students who have experienced bullying around the campus of
Our Lady of Fatima University. The researcher used an onsite survey form as the instrument for data
collection.

The sampling method used in this study was purposive sampling. The researchers targeted senior
high school students who have experienced bullying. The inclusion criteria were set to ensure that the
participants have experienced bullying and would be able to provide the necessary information for the
study. The researchers conducted surveys to determine if the participants met the inclusion criteria. This
study followed the ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects, and the researchers obtained
the participants' informed consent before conducting the study (World Medical Association, 2013). 

Reference: World Medical Association. (2013). World medical association declaration of

Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191-2194.

RESEARCH ETHICS

Confidentiality and anonymity: Participants' identities should be kept confidential, and their personal
information should not be disclosed without their consent. Researchers should also use anonymous data
collection methods wherever possible to protect participants' privacy.

Minimizing harm: Researchers should take steps to minimize any potential harm or distress that may
result from participation in the study. For example, if a participant reports experiencing bullying during
the study, researchers should provide them with resources and support to address the issue.

By following these research ethics guidelines, researchers can ensure that their study on the impact of
bullying is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner. This not only protects the rights and welfare
of the participants but also ensures the validity and reliability of the research findings.

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DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

1. The researchers will ask permission of the respondents to partake in this research. This is done by
giving a permission slip to sign on the respondents.

2. If permitted, the researchers will give a brief discussion of what and will happen in this study.

3. After the discussion, the researchers inform the respondents on the anonymity and confidentiality
that will gather on the collected data, only the researchers know the information about the
respondents.

4. Now informed, the researchers prepare a voice recorder to record the data and prepare a set of
questions for the respondents to answer. If needed, the researcher will ask some follow-up
questions.

5. When the interview has ended, the researcher gives their gratitude to the respondents for
contributing to this study. 

6. The researcher will gather the collected data on the respondents. The researchers will organize
and transcript the whole interview.

7. Now to analyze the collected data from the respondents, the researchers use thematic analysis as
their method to interpret the data. 

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