The Impact of Group Counseling on the Self-Esteem Levels of Students Who Have Been Identified as the Targets of Bullying Aggressors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if group counseling would be an effective intervention in raising the self-esteem levels of 7th grade students identified as the targets of bullying aggressors. A literature review is presented, which discusses the definitions and various types of bullying, examines bullying as it relates to age and gender, bullying and self-esteem, and bullying in the school environment. It also looks at methods that have been utilized within the school environment to help reach out to and treat the targets of bullying aggressors—including group counseling. For this study, 12 students volunteered to participate in an 8-week counseling program—all of whom had reported experiencing bullying behaviors within the last year. Two counseling groups were developed—one comprised of six female students and the other of six male students. The participants completed a pre and post questionnaire for this study—The Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale—in order to measure any changes in their self-esteem levels as a result of the intervention. Results are discussed, as well as the implications that this study may have on future school counselors and future studies related to bullying and self-esteem