The Effect of Game on Peer Bullying and Emotions in Physical Education and Game Lesson

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of educational games on peer bullying and emotion in physical education and game lessons. The study group consisted of 19 4th-grade primary school students (9 girls and 10 boys) from the 2023-2024 academic year, selected through criterion sampling. A game-based activity was implemented in physical education and game lessons for eight weeks. The Games and Emotions Scale for Children and the Peer Bullying Scale were used for data collection. The study followed a within-group experimental design, with pretest, posttest, and follow-up measurements. In data analysis, one-way ANOVA for repeated measures, one-way ANOVA for independent samples, and independent samples t-test were applied. The findings revealed that playing games in physical education and game lessons reduced peer bullying among children but did not have a significant impact on their emotional states. This effect was sustained in the retention measurements. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in peer bullying and emotional states based on gender and participation in sports courses outside school. Except for the bully sub-scale, no significant difference was observed in peer bullying concerning time spent on the internet. As a result, the study highlights the importance of educational games in reducing and preventing peer bullying. Additionally, integrating traditional games into the curriculum may help decrease peer bullying while improving students' social skills and empathy levels.