Relationship of Peer Victimization, Psychological Distress and Self Esteem among Teenagers

This study was designed to estimate the relationship of peer victimization, psychological distress and self-esteem among teenagers. The sample consisted of 233 teenager’s age range from 11 to 20 years. Data was collected from Kot Addu and Multan District. Convenient Sampling method was used to collect the data. Illinois Bully scale developed by (Espelage, D. L. & Holt, 2001) consisted of 18 items was used to check the rate of Peer Victimization. A 20 item state Self Esteem scale developed by (Heatherton, T. F. & Polivy, 1991) was taken to check the level of self-esteem among teenagers. Another 10 item Kessler psychological Distress scale (K10) developed by (Kessler & Mroczek, 1992) was used to check the level of distress among teenagers. The results were analyzed through SPSS. The findings of the study show that peer victimization leads to psychological distress and victimized teenagers have low level of self-esteem. It was also found that rate of peer victimization is high among school going teenagers as compared to college or university. Result further exposed that there is no significance difference in peer victimization on the basis of demographic variables like age group, gender, parent’s qualification, no of siblings and family system.

Previously it was found that peer victimization has strong link with children's emotional adjustment and depression and anxiety were considered as strong indicator as its impact (Franke&Hymel, 1984;Kovacs, 1985;Parker & Asher, 1987). Olweus's investigations (1991) concluded that overt aggressions among teen agers were associated with depression. In the same lines, Neary and Joseph (1994) explored the same association among girls and Slee (1995) found positive association across both genders.
Self-esteem is an individual judgment of the value that is communicated in the states of mind the individual holds towards himself. In this manner, Self-esteem is a state of mind about the self and is identified with individual convictions about aptitudes, capacities, social connections and future results (Cooper,1967). A previous investigation has found negative correlation between self-esteem and peer victimization, it was concluded that teenagers with low self-esteemed are frequently victimized than are adolescents with high self-esteem (Egan & Perry, 1998;Grills & Ollen-dick, 2002). A common reason for this association could be that adolescents who low self-esteem draw negative attention from peers, and might be they provoked particular bullying behaviours from their peer groups (Kaltiala-Heino, Rimpelä, Marttunen, Rimpelä, & Rantanen, 1999;Olweus, 1992). Self-criticizing behaviours might be worked as an invitation to bullying behaviours from others (Egan & Perry, 1998). And Hodges & Perry, 1999 furthers concluded that adolescents with low self-esteem have less capability of counter-attacks. Results of their longitudinal studies mainly focused on self-esteem and victimization in children, and found that peer victimization and low selfesteem operate as mutually reinforcing systems.
Keeping in view the same notion in mind, the present study was carried out in order to determine relationship between peer victimization, psychological distress and self-esteem among teenagers from 11 to 20 year and also investigate the differences in age group, gender, no of siblings, parent's qualifications, family system and educational institutes on peer victimization in Pakistani context.

To investigate the association between peer victimization and
psychological distress among teenagers 2. To know the effect of peer victimization on self esteem of the teenagers. 3. To probe into the demographic factors (age, gender, family system, parental literacy, and number of siblings) effecting peer victimization among teenagers Hypotheses 1. Peer victimization will be positively correlated with psychological distress. 2. Victimized teenagers have low level of self-esteem as compared to non-victimized 3. Males are more victimized as compared to female 4. The rate of peer victimization is high among early teenagers as compared to late teenagers 5. The rate of peer victimization is high in teenagers who live in nuclear family as compared to those who live in joint family system 6. The rate of peer victimization is low in teenagers whose parents are literate as compared to those whose parents are illiterate 7. The rate of peer victimization will high in teenagers who are single child, having no sibling or age mate as compared to those who have two or more siblings

Sample
The sample comprised of 233 teenagers (73 Male 160 Female) studying in different school, college and university ranging in age from 11-20 years. Convenience sampling was used to select participants from different school, college and university from different area of KotAddu and Multan.

Tools
Along with the instrument a demographic sheet is attached in order to know about the demographic variable. The required information was age, gender, No of siblings, education, parent's qualification, family system. Following three instruments were used in this research. Bullying and victimization during early adolescence: Peer influences and psychosocial correlates. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 2, 123-14)

Procedure
The participants were approached individually and collected data from them. They were briefed about the nature of research being carried out. Their consent and cooperation was required and after their permission and willingness. The questionnaire was handed over to them state self-esteem scale, psychological distress scale and bully scale and asked them to select the option which are truly representative of their choice. It was also clear to them that the information collected from them would be kept confidential and will be used only for research purpose. The SPSS statistical package was used to analyze the data ANOVA, t test correlation, one-way ANOVA and Means were used for statistical analysis of data.

Results
The present study aimed at exploring the relationship between peer victimization, psychological distress and self-esteem among teenagers. The result were analyzed, concluded and interpreted using SPSS (statistical package for social science).  Table 1 shows Pearson product moment-correlation coefficient among peer victimization and psychological distress. Victimization has positively correlated with the psychological distress and there is significant relation between these two variables. r = 0.001, p<0.01.    Table 3 shows Pearson product moment-correlation coefficient among peer victimization and self-esteem. The result also shows that there is a positive relation between peer victimization and self-esteem and there is significant relation between these two variables. r= -.42, p<0.001.  Table 4 shows the regression analysis by taking self-esteem as dependent variable, which depend on peer victimization. Table shows coefficient multiple determination R 2 (.18) and adjust R 2 .17). It also indicates analysis of variance of teenagers whereas self-esteem is a dependent variable which depends on victimization F (1,231), p<0.05. More over table represent significant regression co-efficient, t=-7.18. The result showed peer victimization leads to low level of self-esteem among teenagers.  Table 5 indicates the rate of peer victimization on the basis of gender differences. The average mean of male on victimization is (36.00) with standard deviation of (13.69) and for male the mean score is (32.43) with standard deviation of (12.66). Independent sample t test has been applied. The result reveals that there is no significance difference in peer victimization among male and female teenagers.  Table 6 indicates the rate of peer victimization on the basis of age differences. The average mean of early teenagers on victimization is (31.90) with standard deviation of (11.53) and for late teenagers the mean score is (33.60) with standard deviation of (13.05). Independent sample t test has been applied. The result reveals that there is no significance difference in peer victimization on the basis of age differences.  Table 7 indicates the rate of peer victimization on the basis of family system. The average mean nuclear family on victimization is (32.66) with standard deviation of (12.61) and joint family the mean score is (35.91) with standard deviation of (14.01). Independent sample t test has been applied. The result reveals that there is no significance difference in peer victimization on the basis of family system.  Table 8 indicates the rate of peer victimization on the basis of parent's qualification. The average mean of literate parents on victimization is (33.80) with standard deviation of (13.12) and for illiterate parents the mean score is (32.16) with standard deviation of (12.94). Independent sample t test has been applied. The result reveals that there is no significance difference in peer victimization on the basis parent's qualification.  Table 9 reveals summary of analysis of variance (ANOVA) among victimization score of teenagers on the basis of no of siblings. It also indicates the sum of square and mean score of victimization F (174). The result reveals that there is no significance in peer victimization on number of siblings. Table 10 reveals summary of analysis of variance (ANOVA) among victimization score of teenagers on the basis of educational institute. It also indicates the sum of square and mean score of victimization F 3.27.The result reveals that there is a significance difference in peer victimization on the basis of educational institute. The rate of peer victimization is high in school as compared to college and university.

Discussion
The statistical analysis of the data leads to the acceptance of the two main hypothesis of the research. But the statistical data confirms that there are no differences in victimization on the basis of demographic variable like gender, age group, family system, no of siblings and parents qualification. The first hypothesis stated that peer victimization will be positively correlated with psychological distress. Results also support this hypothesis that being a target of victimization leads to psychological distress among teenagers. According to previous research victimization is directly related to psychological distress. (J. Herrero et al). P<0.05.Hence hypothesis is accepted.
The second hypothesis stated that victimized teenagers have low level of self-esteem as compared to non-victimized. Result also support this hypothesis that being a target of victim leads to low level self-esteem among teenager. As previous research revealed that PV predicted significant increases in negative views of the self, world, and future and decreases in self-perceived competence (Thomas, et al) P<0.05. Hence hypothesis is accepted.
Third hypothesis stated that males are more victimized as compared to female. Result shows no significance differences in peer victimization on the basis of gender as in male (p<0.51) and in female (p<0.58) p>0.05, as the result shows that both girls and boys are equally victimized. One reason can be in present era in which both girls and boys have equal social interaction both are equally social so on the basis of this reason both are equally victimized. Hence hypothesis is rejected.
Fourth hypothesis stated that the rate of peer victimization is high among early teenagers as compared to late teenagers. Result also support this hypothesis as in early teenagers (p<.55) and in late teenagers (p<.52). p>0.05 Hence hypothesis is rejected. The reason may be there is no significance difference in their ages.
Fifth hypothesis stated that the rate of peer victimization is high in teenagers who live in nuclear family as compared to those who live in joint family system. Result also don't support this hypothesis as in nuclear family (p<.08) and in joint family (p<.10). p>0.05 Hence hypothesis is rejected. One reason may be that family system does not influence the social life of teenagers.
Sixth hypothesis stated that the rate of peer victimization is low in teenagers whose parents are literate as compared to those whose parents are illiterate. Result also support this hypothesis as in literate parents (p<.52) and illiterate parents (p<.52). p>0.05.Hence hypothesis is rejected. The reason can be that peer victimization among teenagers is not influenced by the qualification of the parents. Seventh hypothesis stated that the rate of peer victimization will high in teenagers who are single child, having no sibling or age mate as compared to those who have two or more siblings. Result also support this hypothesis as (p<.84). p>0.05 Hence hypothesis is rejected. Eightieth hypothesis stated that the rate of peer victimization will high in teenagers who study in school as compared to those who study in college or university. Result also support this hypothesis as (p<.022). Because the reason is that school going teenagers are more victimized because of low level of maturity as they grow there maturity level increase and rate of peer victimization decrease with the passage of time. p<0.05, Hence hypothesis is accepted.

Conclusions and Recommendation
To sum up it can be concluded that peer victimization leads to psychological distress and victimized teenagers have low level of selfesteem. It was also found that rate of peer victimization is high among school going teenagers as compared to college or university. Result further reveals that there is no significance difference in peer victimization on the basis of demographic variables like age group, gender, parent's qualification, no of siblings and family system. In the light of the conclusions and the above mentioned discussion it was recommended that Sample size should be increased to increase external validity or generalizability of the finding of the research. More study should be conducted particularly in Pakistan to draw authentic conclusion. This study should be also done on different age group. In future the study should be conducted with interviews as well as scales. The concept of peer victimization, psychological distress and self-esteem is very broad; more work should be done on it to explore it more deeply. New researcher can explore their concept in more depth with new variation.