Implications of School Bullying Victimization in Mental Health: Qualitative Evidence

Abstract This study aimed to understand the impact of victimization caused by bullying on the mental health of adolescents. It is a qualitative investigation conducted with 55 students from 11 public schools in a city of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and reviewed according to content analysis using Atlas TI software. A total of 19 students participating in the study reported having already suffered bullying at school. It was verified in the narratives that the victimization by bullying represents a threat to the health and mental well-being of the students, characterizing itself as a painful, daily and lasting experience in the school trajectory. Four thematic categories were identified: 1) Mental illness attributed to the aggressions suffered; 2) Negative emotions associated with school and peer relationships; 3) Impotence and passivity; and 4) distrust of weak institutional responses. The results can support interventions to promote mental health at school with victimized students.

摘要 本研究旨在探究校园欺凌所导致的受害经历对青少年心理健康的影响。本研究为质性调查，在巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州某城市的11所公立学校中招募55名学生参与。研究数据通过半结构化访谈收集，并采用Atlas TI软件进行内容分析。共有19名参与本研究的学生报告称曾在学校遭受校园欺凌。分析叙事文本后证实，校园欺凌受害经历对学生的健康与心理福祉构成威胁，其表现为学生校园生涯中一段痛苦、常态化且持久的创伤体验。本研究共提炼出四大主题类别：1) 归因于所受攻击的精神疾患；2) 与校园及同伴关系相关的负面情绪；3) 无力感与被动性；4) 对制度性应对乏力的不信任。本研究结果可为针对受欺凌学生的校园心理健康促进干预工作提供支撑依据。