Bullying, Self-Esteem, and Speaking Proficiency: A study on Marine cadets
Keywords:
bullying experience, self-esteem, speaking performance, maritime education, cadets, cadettesAbstract
Bullying is widespread in educational institutions globally and impacts children and adolescents. It entails dominant or majority individuals targeting weaker or dissimilar individuals through physical, verbal, or exclusionary methods. This study employed a quantitative technique and a correlational research design to ascertain the relationship between students' experiences of bullying, their speaking ability, and self-esteem. The study participants consisted of cadets enrolled in GE-PC (Purposive Communication) during the second semester of the 2022–2023 academic year. The cadets were enrolled in the College of Maritime Education at Jose Rizal Memorial State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. The findings indicate that respondents infrequently experienced bullying on average. The responders may possess a profound deficiency in self-respect, which significantly impacts their self-esteem, despite their adequate speaking abilities. They also exhibited a deficiency in fluency. Moreover, a significant correlation existed between speaking proficiency and experiences of bullying, as well as between students' self-esteem and instances of bullying. Occurrences of consistent mockery coupled with sporadic bullying undermine initial convictions. Enduring manifestations of bullying disclose fundamental tendencies despite their infrequency. Despite the respondents' favourable self-perception, their confidence in task performance is questionable. Robust verbal communication abilities, along with speech fluency challenges, suggest a correlation between speaking competence and experiences of bullying, which affect self-esteem. This study indicates that marine programs can address covert bullying through the implementation of explicit policies, awareness initiatives, and support networks. Workshops may be organized to improve practical skills and cultivate resilience. Exercises, feedback, and stress management are recommended to enhance speaking proficiency. For impacted youngsters, peer networks, communication training, and anti-bullying legislation foster a supportive environment.
Downloads
References
Ahmed, M. G. A. E., & El-Slamoni, M. A. E. A. (2018). The impact of school bullying on students' self-esteem in preparatory school. American Journal of Nursing Research, 6(6), 679-688.
Aluede, O. (2011). Managing bullying problems in Nigerian secondary schools and general strain theory. The African Symposium, 11(1), 138-145. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128708315740
Arseneault, L. (2018). The persistent and pervasive impact of being bullied in childhood and adolescence: Implications for policy and practice. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59, 405–421.
Bacay, T. E., Dotong, C. I., & Laguador, J. M. (2015). Attitude of marine engineering students on some school-related factors and their academic performance in Electro Technology 1 and 2. Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities, 2(4), 239-249.
Banzer, R., Corcoran, P., Kahn, J. P., Postuvan, V., Podlogar, T., Sisask, M., Varnik, A., & Wasserman, D. (2017). Bullying victimization and suicide ideation and behavior among adolescents in Europe: A 10-country study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61, 179–186.
Barzilay, S., Brunstein Klomek, A., Apter, A., Carli, V., Wasserman, C., Hadlaczky, G., ... & Viner, R. M. (2017). Bullying victimization and suicide ideation and behavior among adolescents in Europe: A 10-country study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61, 179–186.
Bonell, C., Allen, E., Christie, D., Elbourne, D., Fletcher, A., Grieve, R., ... & Viner, R. M. (2014). Initiating change locally in bullying and aggression through the school environment (INCLUSIVE): Study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials, 15(1), 381.
Brito, C. C., & Oliveira, M. T. (2013). Bullying and self-esteem in adolescents from public schools. Journal de Pediatria, 89, 601–607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2013.04.001
Cénat, J. M., Hébert, M., Blais, M., Lavoie, F., Guerrier, M., & Derivois, D. (2014). Cyberbullying, psychological distress, and self-esteem among youth in Quebec schools. Journal of Affective Disorders, 169, 7–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.07.019
Chu, X. W., Fan, C. Y., Lian, S. L., & Zhou, Z. K. (2019). Does bullying victimization really influence adolescents’ psychosocial problems? A three-wave longitudinal study in China. Journal of Affective Disorders, 246, 603–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.103
Cooper, T. (2024, March 29). Mental health for college students. https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-mental-health-resources/
Craig, W., Boniel-Nissim, M., King, N., Walsh, S. D., Boer, M., Donnelly, P. D., ... & Harel-Fisch, Y. (2020). Social media use and cyber-bullying: A cross-national analysis of young people in 42 countries. Journal of Adolescent Health, 66(6), S100-S108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.03.006
Daymiel, R. J., Cantina, J., Alipoyo, V. R. I., Comecilla, M. O., Patay, A. S., & Recamara, J. T. (2022). Anxiety in second language in relation to students’ speaking performance. Sprin Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(08), 396–410. https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v1i08.41
Dou, Y., Wongpakaran, T., Wongpakaran, N., O'Donnell, R., Bunyachatakul, S., & Pojanapotha, P. (2022). Bullying victimization moderates the association between social skills and self-esteem among adolescents: A cross-sectional study in international schools. Children, 9(11), 1606. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9111606
Evans, C. B. R., & Smokowski, P. R. (2016). Theoretical explanations for bullying in school: How ecological processes propagate perpetration and victimization. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 33, 365–375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-015-0432-2
Fanti, K. A., & Georgiou, S. N. (2013). Bullying, victimization, school performance, and mother-child relationship quality: Direct and transactional associations. Journal of Criminology, 7(11), 24-32.
Ferraz De Camargo, L., Rice, K., & Thorsteinsson, E. B. (2023). Bullying victimization CBT: A proposed psychological intervention for adolescent bullying victims. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1122843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1122843
García, J. A., Olmos, F. C., Matheu, M. L., & Carreño, T. P. (2019). Self-esteem levels vs global scores on the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Heliyon, 5, e01378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01378
Geronimo, R., Ortega, K., & Visitacion, E. (2020). ABC's of ABA of 2013: A critique of Republic Act No. 10627, also known as The Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6741/
Hidalgo, M. J. A., & Españo, A. C. (2021). Attitude and exposure to bullying of junior high school students. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(8).
Howcroft, G. (2013). The impact that bullying at school has on an individual’s self-esteem during young adulthood. International Journal of Education and Research, 1(8), 1-8.
Kulp, C. M. (2013). An examination of the forms of bullying and their relationship to the reports of victimization in students grades 6-12. Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1805&context=etd
Lee, K. S., & Vaillancourt, T. (2019). Body mass index, peer victimization, and body dissatisfaction across 7 years of childhood and adolescence: Evidence of moderated and mediated pathways. Developmental Science, 22, e12734.
Martinez, J., Rodriguez-Hidalgo, A. J., & Zych, I. (2020). Bullying and cyberbullying in adolescents from disadvantaged areas: Validation of questionnaires; prevalence rates; and relationship to self-esteem, empathy, and social skills. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 6199. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176199
Martinez-Monteagudo, M. C., Delgado, B., Ingles, C. J., & Escortell, R. (2020). Cyberbullying and social anxiety: A latent class analysis among Spanish adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 406. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020406
Mbah, R. (2020). The perception of students about school bullying and how it affects academic performance in Cameroon. Retrieved from https://research.library.mun.ca/14613/1/thesis.pdf
Monteiro, R. P., Coelho, G. L. D., Hanel, P. H. P., et al. (2022). The efficient assessment of self-esteem: Proposing the Brief Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 17, 931–947. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-021-09936-4
Moulton, S. (2022, January 24). Theories of self-esteem: Early & modern. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/theories-of-self-esteem-early-modern.html
Mukherjee, P. (2021, April 15). 7 main reasons there are fewer women seafarers in the maritime industry. Retrieved from https://www.marineinsight.com/life-at-sea/7-fewer-women-seafarers-in-the-maritime-industry/
Orpinas, P., McNicholas, C., & Nahapetyan, L. (2015). Gender differences in trajectories of relational aggression perpetration and victimization from middle to high school. Aggressive Behavior, 41(5), 401-412. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21543
Pigozi, P. L., & Machado, A. L. (2015). Bullying during adolescence in Brazil: An overview. Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, 20, 3509–3522. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320152011.05292014
Salamanca, D., & Rollo, C. (2024). Bullying encountered and their perceived impacts on students’ sense of self. European Journal of Education Studies. ISSN: 2501-1111. Retrieved from https://www.oapub.org/edu
Tan, M. L. G. (2022). Role of school administrators in bullying prevention in state universities laboratory schools: Implication to pre-service training. 94(1), 14.
UNESCO. (2019). Behind the numbers: Ending school violence and bullying. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000366483
Velasco, A. G., Agena, E. M., Orence, A. C., Gonzales, A. A., Beldia, R. A., & Laguador, J. M. (2015). Emotional elements on learning style preference of high and low performing junior marine transportation students. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Research, 3(1), 1-8.
Wong, J. (2021). Cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for prevention of anxiety and mood disorders in public safety personnel. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=11897&context=dissertations
Woolley, M. E., & Patton, D. U. (2009). School violence. In D. Carr, R. Crosnoe, M. E. Hughes, & A. Pienta (Eds.), Encyclopedia of the life course and human development. Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan.
Wulandari, E., Wijayava, R., & Arumi, S. (2022). The influence of bullying toward students’ confidence in speaking skill at SMA Negeri 1 Polokarto. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Linguistics and Language Teaching. Retrieved from https://proceeding.unikal.ac.id/index.php/nspbi/article/view/949
Yousef, W. S. M., & Bellamy, A. (2015). The impact of cyberbullying on the self-esteem and academic functioning of Arab American middle high school students. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.investigacionpsicologica.org/research/article/view/1012
Published on: 31-03-2025
Also Available On
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jovelyn M. Cantina, Edgar S. Balbuena, Janet Grace R. Sarzuelo, Amilade B. Borja, Expedito B. Columnas Jr.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors contributing to this journal retain the copyright of their articles but agree to publish their articles under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that appropriate credit is given, that a link to the license is provided, and that they indicate if changes were made. They may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses them or their use.
