Comparing attachment styles, loneliness and assertiveness of adolescents as victims of bullying and normal adolescents in 7th and 8th graders

This study aimed at comparing attachment styles, loneliness and assertiveness of teenagers who were victims of bullying and normal teenagers in the 7th and 8th grades. The research has an ex post facto and 279 students were selected using cluster sampling. The data were gathered via Olvius bullying scale, UCLA loneliness scale, Gambriel/Richie assertiveness scale and RAAS attachment style inventory. After dividing the participants by Olvius questionnaire into two groups as victims of bullying (n = 33) and normal (n = 246), in all groups, the data were collected and calculated through Multivariat Analysis of Variance (MANOA). The results showed that the victims of bullying had higher scores in anxiety and lower scores in feeling of closeness and assertiveness. Also, there were no significant difference between the two groups in the degree of attachment (avoidance attachment) and loneliness with each other. Identifying the psychological characteristics that make teenagers susceptible to accepting the role of a victim is essential in planning for counseling and designing interventions.