The Predictive Ability of the Self-Esteem scale Dimensions for Bully Victimization Among Basic School Students in the City of Ma'an, Jordan

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the ability of the self-esteem scale dimensions in predicting bully victimization among basic school students in the city of Ma'an in Jordan.  The study examined the variations in students’ levels of self-esteem and levels of bully victimization in relevance to gender, academic achievement, and birth order. The bully victimization scale and self- esteem scale were used to achieve the purposes of this study. The sample included 225 students (104 males and 121females) from grades 6 to 9. The results showed statistically significant negative relation between total self-esteem scale and its dimensions and the levels of bully victimization and that the dimensions of self-esteem scale explained 17.5 % of variance of the degree of bully victimization. It was also revealed that family and social dimensions of self-esteem were statistically significant in predicting levels of bully victimization among the participants. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in students’ levels of self-esteem scale in favor of males and students with “excellent” academic achievement. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the students’ levels of self-esteem related to birth order. Finally, female students reported significantly higher levels of bully victimization; and that academic performance and birth order were not statistically significant. Keywords: Self- Esteem, Bully Victimization, Basic schools students, Ma'an, Jordan. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-11-08 Publication date: April 30th 202