The Moderating Role of Peer Support in the Relationship Between School Bullying and Anxiety in Middle School Students with Social Anxiety in Wasit, Iraq

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the moderating role of peer support in the relationship between school bullying and anxiety in students with social anxiety in Wasit city, Iraq. Methods and Materials: The research method was correlational, and the statistical population consisted of middle school students in Wasit city, Iraq, in the spring of 2024. From this population, 300 students were selected using convenience sampling and then completed three questionnaires: the Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al., 1988), the School Bullying Questionnaire (Álvarez-Marín et al., 2022), and the Peer Support Questionnaire (Mostafai Alayi & Mohsennajad, 2020). Findings: The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical regression analysis through SPSS version 26. The results showed that school bullying was significantly related to anxiety, peer support, and anxiety with peer support (p < 0.05). The hierarchical regression analysis results indicated that peer support moderates the relationship between being a victim of bullying, aggression, and cyberbullying victimization with anxiety. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is essential to consider the role of peer support in either weakening or strengthening the relationship between school bullying and anxiety in educational environments to empower students.