Bullying is one of the most common problems experienced by school-age children and may have negative psychological effects, particularly social anxiety. Children who become victims of bullying tend to experience fear, low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and difficulty interacting with peers. This study aimed to determine the relationship between bullying victimization and social anxiety among school-age children at SDN 3 Lembah, Babadan District, Ponorogo Regency.
This study employed a quantitative correlational design using a cross-sectional approach. The population consisted of 52 students, while 52 respondents were selected using total sampling based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Bullying Victim Questionnaire and the Social Anxiety Questionnaire. Data analysis included univariate analysis to describe respondent characteristics and bivariate analysis using the Spearman Rank correlation test with a significance level of α = 0.05.
The results showed that most respondents experienced a moderate level of bullying victimization (20 respondents; 38,5%), while the majority had a moderate level of social anxiety (22 respondents; 42.3%). The Spearman Rank test revealed a p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05) with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.695, indicating a statistically significant positive relationship with a moderate correlation between bullying victimization and social anxiety among school-age children.
The study concludes that the higher the level of bullying victimization experienced by children, the higher their level of social anxiety. Schools are expected to strengthen bullying prevention programs through character education, improved supervision, and counseling services for students who experience bullying.