THE INFLUENCE OF SOME DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES, PARENTAL AND PEER FACTORS ON BULLYING BEHAVIOUR AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of gender, age, religion, family size, family income, parental and peer influence on bullying behaviour among senior secondary school students in Ibadan, Oyo state. A sample of two hundred and fifty adolescent students was selected using stratified random sampling from five senior secondary schools in Ibadan city. Fifty respondents were selected from each school. Bullying Rating Scale, Parental and Peer Influence Rating Scales were used in eliciting information. Three research hypotheses were tested. The data were analysed using multiple regression analysis and Pearson product moment correlation analysis. Result showed that bullying is positively correlated with gender, family type, religion, family size, parental influence, peer influence, age. Parental influence made the most significant contribution to the prediction of bullying behaviour. Based on the findings of this study, helping students learn how to understand and manage their feelings may provide them with tools to avoid escalating negative feelings so as to avoid serious confrontations with other students, teachers, and administrators.