Pain That Lasts: A Study on Social Anxiety, Self-Critical Rumination, Psychological Distress & Peer Support among Bullied Young Adults

In the research community, the immediate effects of childhood bullying have been extensively researched and are relatively well-understood even within the public sphere. However, its repercussions go way beyond the places they are experienced in, leading to grave mental health concerns. Although some researchers have studied social anxiety as a long-term implication of bullying, various other effects have not been investigated. The present study aims to measure the extent to which social anxiety moves in the same direction with self-critical rumination, psychological distress and peer support among young adults subjected to bullying. A sample of 80, age 18-25 years were taken. The findings of the study reveal a positive significant relationship between social anxiety, self-critical rumination, and psychological distress. In addition to this, a negative significant relationship between peer support and social anxiety was identified. Adding to the knowledge of existing body, the paper aims to help victims as well as the research community to understand the factors that help in maintaining social anxiety. Thus, as per prior research, the study suggests Emotion-Focused Therapy, may be an effective type of treatment for those suffering from high levels of social anxiety and self-criticism, which is being further explored by the researcher of the current study.