Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
2 Master’s Degree in School Counseling, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.
3 Master’s Degree in Family Counseling, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.
Abstract
The present study investigated the role of childhood psychological maltreatment and negative affect in social anxiety among students who are victims of bullying, with self-control serving as a mediating variable. This descriptive–correlational study employed a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach and was applied in terms of its purpose. The statistical population comprised all students aged 13 to 17 years enrolled in lower and upper secondary schools in Sabzevar, Iran, during the 2023–2024 academic year. A sample of 220 students identified as bullying victims was selected through purposive sampling with the assistance of school counselors. Data were collected using the Psychological Maltreatment Questionnaire (Kwates & Messman, 2014), the Negative Affect Scale (Watson et al., 1988), the Social Anxiety Scale (La Greca, 1998), the Self-Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004), and the Olweus Bullying/Victimization Questionnaire (1996). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26 and SmartPLS version 4. Fit indices indicated that the proposed model demonstrated a good fit with the data. The findings revealed that both childhood psychological maltreatment and negative affect had significant direct relationships with social anxiety. Furthermore, these two variables indirectly influenced social anxiety through self-control. Specifically, psychological maltreatment and negative affect were negatively associated with self-control, while self-control was negatively associated with social anxiety. Based on these results, it is recommended that schools implement programs to strengthen self-control and design psychological interventions aimed at reducing the adverse effects of psychological maltreatment and improving the management of negative affect among bullying victims.
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