Bullying, depression and suicidal ideation amongst school going adolescents in Kampala

Abstract

Bullying is a serious global public issue with a third of adolescents experiencing bullying according to UNESCO, 2018. This could possibly lead to depression and suicidal ideation. This study explored the relationship between bullying, depression and suicidal ideation among school going adolescents in Kampala. It adopted a quantitative approach and a correlational, causal- comparative design which included 196 participants who filled in the English victimization questionnaire on bullying, the patient health questionnaire on depression and the suicidal ideation questionnaire on suicidal ideation. The study results analyzed using Pearson correlation co-efficient and the independent t-test revealed a positive relationship between depression and bullying, bullying and suicidal ideation, depression and suicidal ideation since the p value = 0.000 < .05, .000 < 0.05 and .006 < .05 respectively. However there was no significance in the difference of levels of bullying and depression amongst adolescents in both Government Aided (M= -.86520, SD =10.58723), (M=8.981, SD=6.47061) and Private secondary schools (M=.-86520, SD = 10.59868), (M=9.7927, SD= 5.4788910) because results indicated t (.562), p >.575, and t (185.7) p > .102 respectively. On the other hand difference in the levels of suicidal ideation amongst adolescents in both Government Aided (M=.11.9905, SD=16.47288) and private aided secondary schools (M=.28.0000, SD=64.40361) was significant since p < .015 . Thus this study recommends more research to be carried out on bullying and mental health across different environments and ages, counsellors to be deployed in schools for the betterment of adolescent mental health, organization of talks and outreaches to schools in regard to the adverse effects of bullying to adolescent mental health.