| dc.description.abstract | Background: Because bullying is a common problem among pupils in the first grade of junior high and there has been little research on victims of bullying and bullies in relation to different types of anxiety, this study was conducted. Objective: This study researched whether victims, bullies and a control group differed in four types of anxiety (social-, separation-, panic- and generalized anxiety). It also explored whether there was an interaction effect of sex. Method: The data used in this study was obtained from a part of the study of the Dutch Consortium on Bullying. 432 students of the first grade of junior high (Mage = 13.3) participated in this study. To measure the anxiety variable, participants completed the questionnaire Reviced Child Anxiety and Depression Scale [RDCAS]. To measure the bully role, participants completed the Bullying Role Nomination Procedure [BRNP]. Results: There were significant differences between victims, bullies and the control group on the four types of anxiety. In general, victims scored higher on anxiety than the other groups. The differences between the three groups were the biggest for social anxiety. Bullies scored insignificantly higher than the control group. Furthermore, there was no interaction-effect of sex, only a main effect. Conclusion: This study contributes to increasing the knowledge about the four types of anxiety and if bullies experience these types of anxiety. Because this study didn’t show a difference between bullies and the control group, interventions should not be focussed on bullies in combination with anxiety. Instead they should focus on victims and the different types of anxiety rather than anxiety in general. | |
