Prevalence of Aggressive Behaviours among Students in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VI, June 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Prevalence of Aggressive Behaviours among Students in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya

Carolyne Otieno Wakoli¹, Sarah Bundotich^2
1,2 Alupe University College (Constituent College of Moi University), Kenya

Abstract: – This study aimed at finding out the prevalence of aggressive behaviours among the secondary school students in Kenya. The participants consisted of 22 schools which formulated a total of 308 students. The students’ questionnaire was used to obtain information on interactions to bullying, fighting and destruction. It was established that physical fighting is one of the aggressive behaviours reported in schools world over. With regard to vandalization of school property, most cases of vandalism in schools is manifested in writing on walls, pouring food, burning school buildings, breaking into other students’ boxes and pouring laboratory chemicals. Based on this, the study recommended that there is need for the concerted effort of the individual and the stake-holders are important for the successful transition of adolescents

Key terms: Prevalence; Aggressive behaviors

I. BACKGROUND

In most cases psycho-social factors contribute to the development of aggressive behaviour. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, psycho- social factors are factors that pertain to the influence of social factors on an individual’s mind or behaviour, and the interrelation of behavioural and social factors. The primary psycho-social factors that contribute to students’ behaviour are family, peers, school and neighbourhood. Weiser and Freud (2011) pointed out that, parents and family members are significant people in the life of students. They contribute the behaviours which are associated with success among adolescents. Sailor (2010) noted that, depending on the behaviour of the people in the immediate environment, the student could either engage in behaviour that is acceptable or not acceptable in society. Therefore, parents and family members are significant in causing aggressive behaviour of students.
Following many incidents of bullying in Norwegian schools, Solberg and Olweus (2003) conducted a survey involving 75,000 school aged children to determine the extent of bullying. The authors reported that bullying was serious and widespread in schools. According to Gaul (2010) Peer victimization has become highly prevalent in schools with some studies showing that as many as 50% of high school students report having victimized or being victimized. This prompted the researcher to carry out the study to establish the extent of bullying, fights and destruction of property/ vandalism among the students in secondary schools

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