Peer Group Pressure, Self-Esteem and Bullying Behaviour among Secondary School Adolescents in Delta Central Senatorial District

This study examined peer group pressure, self-esteem and bullying behaviour among secondary school adolescents in Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State. Three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. A correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised 45,318 senior secondary school students in public schools within the district. Using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample-size determination table, 380 students were selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using the Peer Group Pressure, Self-Esteem and Bullying Behaviour Questionnaire (PGPSEBBQ), validated by experts in Guidance and Counselling and Measurement and Evaluation. A pilot test involving 50 students produced Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.81, 0.72 and 0.76 for peer group pressure, self-esteem and bullying behaviour respectively, with an overall coefficient of 0.81. Mean and standard deviation answered research question one, Pearson correlation answered questions two and three, while linear regression tested the hypotheses at the 0.05 significance level. Findings showed high peer group pressure and self-esteem, but very high bullying behaviour. Peer group pressure explained 51.0% of the variation in bullying behaviour, while self-esteem explained 28.1%. Both relationships were significant. The study recommended counselling, firm anti-bullying policies and stronger parent-school collaboration.

peer group pressure, self-esteem, bullying behaviour, adolescents, secondary schools

1. Agustiningsih, N., Yusuf, A., & Ahsan. (2024). Relationships among self-esteem, bullying, and cyberbullying in adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(5), 11–17. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20231013-01 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Ighaede-Edwards, I. G., Liu, X., Olawade, D. B., Ling, J., Odetayo, A., & David-Olawade, A. C. (2023). Prevalence and predictors of bullying among in-school adolescents in Nigeria. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 18(6), 1329–1341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2023.05.009 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Laursen, B., & Veenstra, R. (2021). Toward understanding the functions of peer influence: A summary and synthesis of recent empirical research. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(4), 889–907. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12606 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Mordi, P., & Onoyase, A. (2023). Self-esteem, peer pressure, examination anxiety and academic performance of senior secondary students in Delta North Senatorial District, Nigeria. European Journal of Special Education Research, 9(1), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v9i1.4733 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Mota, C. P., Sousa, J. R., & Relva, I. C. (2024). Sibling violence and bullying behaviors in peers: The mediational role of self-esteem. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), Article 227. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020227 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Ndubisi, D. C., Akpunne, B. C., & Badeji, S. O. (2026). Moderating role of self-esteem in interaction between child abuse and bullying behaviour among in-school adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria. Corpus Intellectual, 2(3). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Okafor, S., & Akpochafo, G. O. (2022). Self-esteem and career decision-making difficulties among secondary school students: The moderating impact of age and gender. European Journal of Education Studies, 9(12), 355–368. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v9i12.4602 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Palermiti, A. L., Bartolo, M. G., Musso, P., Servidio, R., & Costabile, A. (2022). Self-esteem and adolescent bullying/cyberbullying and victimization/cybervictimization behaviours: A person-oriented approach. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 18(3), 249–261. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.5379 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Ugwu, L. E., Ramadie, K. J., Ajele, W. K., & Idemudia, E. S. (2024). Childhood adversity and peer influence in adolescent bullying perpetration. Scientific Reports, 14, Article 30959. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81978-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Urien, J., & Enoje, S. C. (2024). Truancy rate among secondary school students in Delta State: Is bullying a contributing factor? International Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Science, 7(2), 211–221. https://doi.org/10.54922/IJEHSS.2024.0673 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Yang, J., Li, S., Gao, L., & Wang, X. (2022). Longitudinal associations among peer pressure, moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration in adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior, 137, Article 107420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107420 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Influence of Career Outcome Expectations and Career Interests on Career Readiness among Secondary School Students in Johor, Malaysia
• Gender and the Outcomes of Forgiveness Education: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis of Anger and Depression Among Ghanaian Adolescents
• Exploring the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Digital Competence, and AI Dependence among Senior College Students in a Private University in Cebu, Philippines
• Empowering Students: The Role of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in Overcoming Exam-Related Depression
• Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Maturity among Members of the Congregation of Our Lady of Fatima Sisters in Jos, Nigeria