Navigating Peer Bullying: Parents' and Students' Communication Patterns, Behavioral Responses, and Coping Strategies

Abstract

The primary aim is to understand how these dynamics influence students' ability to cope with bullying and the role parents play in this process. This research was conducted in Indonesia. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach. The study involved 78 students. Surveys measured the frequency and severity of bullying, communication patterns between parents and students, and student coping strategies. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the frequency and types of bullying, communication patterns, coping strategies, and correlation. In-depth interviews with four participants pairs provided additional insights into their experiences and responses to bullying. Based on the Pearson correlation coefficient samples suggesting that higher levels of bullying are associated with poorer communication with parents and less use of problem-focused strategies. Conversely, it is positively correlated with emotion-focused coping and maladaptive coping, indicating that as bullying frequency increases, adolescents are more likely to rely on emotional management and less effective coping mechanisms. When the results of the thematic analysis were found, four themes showed (1) experiences with bullying, (2) communication patterns, (3) emotional responses, and (4) coping mechanisms. Parental involvement, particularly in problem-solving and emotional support, emerged as a critical factor in helping students navigate bullying situations.