Knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and consequences of bullying among high school students aged (15-20) in Shekhan District

Being linked to both short-term and long-term physical, emotional, and psychological injury, bullying is a serious public health concern. It entails persistent, deliberate hostility from people or organizations targeting peers who might find it difficult to defend themselves. The purpose of this study was to evaluate high school students' attitudes, awareness, and knowledge about bullying. Specific goals included assessing students' comprehension of bullying's definition, forms, and traits; assessing their awareness of preventative techniques and their readiness to use them; and assessing their comprehension of the negative effects bullying has on both victims and offenders. In Shekhan district, 278 randomly chosen high school students between the ages of 15 and 20 participated in a cross-sectional study. Stratified random sampling based on arithmetic law was used to choose the participants. A structured, self-created questionnaire was used to gather data starting on January 20, 2025. Five student researchers conducted the procedure during school visits from October 2024 to May 2025. Most participants were female (51.8%) and between the ages of 15 and 17. The types and effects of bullying were typically well understood by the students. But certain misunderstandings remained, especially about the roles of victims and bullies.