Ikechukwu Uba

Bullying and Its' Relationship with Depression among Teenagers

Abstract The current study examined the relationship between bullying and depression among teenagers. The participants of the study were 242 teenagers (119 males and 123 females) aged between 13 and 17 years selected secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia (mean age = 14.67 years; SD = 1.27).Teenage depression was measured with from Children Depression Inventory (CDI), while bullying was measured with the bullying subscale of the Peer Relationship Questionnaire (PRQ). The study found a positive and significant correlation between bullying and teenage depression (r = .296, p < .01), significant gender difference between males and females (t = 3.306, p < .05) in bullying and a non-significant difference in depression between male and female teenagers (t = .498, p > .05). The result of the study provides confirmation to earlier findings on the relationship between bullying and depression. Recommendations of the study centre on the need to examine the report from family members and peers of teenage bullies.

Effect of self-esteem in the relationship between stress and substance abuse among adolescents: A mediation outcome

The present study assessed the mediating effect of self-esteem in the relationship between stress and substance abuse among adolescents. The participants of the study were 352 adolescents, 54.5% males and 45.5% females aged 13 to18 years, from selected secondary schools in Somolu, Lagos, Nigeria. Substance abuse was measured with the Drug Abuse Screening Test, while stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale, and Self-esteem was measured with the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale. The study ascertained a negative and large correlation (r = -.538, p <.01) between stress and self-esteem, similar results (r = -.536, p <.01) was found between self-esteem and substance abuse and a positive and medium correlation (r = .360, p <.01) was found between stress and substance abuse. Self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between stress and substance abuse. Recommendations of the study highlighted the need for greater enlightenment on the importance of self-esteem particularly among adolescents