Understanding bullying in Nigerian schools: Insights on prevalence, impacts, and solutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63373/3047-8014/21Keywords:
Bullying, Nigerian schools, prevalence, contributing factorsAbstract
Bullying represents a significant issue in Nigerian schools, with a detrimental impact on students' psychological, social, and academic well-being. This systematic literature review aims to comprehensively understand bullying in the Nigerian context, examining its prevalence, contributing factors, impacts, and intervention strategies. The review included studies published in the last ten years and sourced from Google Scholar. The findings indicate that bullying in Nigeria manifests in diverse forms, including physical, verbal, relational, and cyberbullying. These forms exhibit variations based on age, gender, and regional factors. The contributing factors are numerous and complex, encompassing individual characteristics, family dynamics, school environments, and socio-cultural influences. The consequences of bullying for victims are significant, resulting in anxiety, depression, social isolation, and a decline in academic performance. Despite implementing various intervention strategies, including school-based programs, community involvement, and technology-driven solutions, their efficacy remains inconsistent due to challenges in enforcement and resource limitations. This review emphasizes the necessity for more robust, context-specific interventions and calls for further research to address the identified gaps, aiming to enhance the well-being and safety of students in Nigerian schools.
References
Ada, M. J., Okoli, G., Obeten, O. O., & Akeke, M. N. G. (2016). Prevalence, causes and effects of bullying in tertiary institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(29), 98–110.
Adeniyi, M. A., & Adedotun, K. O. (2019). Indiscipline and academic activities of students: Implication for counselling. International Journal of Educational Research, 6(2), 168–173.
Adeyemi, A. O., Odedokun, S. A., & Akanni, O. O. (2024). Determinants of bullying among public secondary school students in Mushin, Lagos State, Nigeria. European Journal of Social Sciences Studies, 10(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v10i2.1773
Akanni, O. O., Olashore, A. A., Osasona, S. O., & Uwadiae, E. (2020). Predictors of bullying reported by perpetrators in a sample of senior school students in Benin City, Nigeria. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1359
Aliero, B. U., Mainagge, I. M. S., & Tsagem, S. Y. (2023). Effect of cognitive restructuring Counselling technique on reduction of bullying behavior among secondary school students in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47434/JEREDA.4.1.2023.50
Asiyai, R. I. (2015). Exploring bullying in nigerian secondary school and school administrators strategies for its’ management department of educational administration and policy studies’. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 5(2), 305–314. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5901/jesr.2015.v5n2p305
Bishop, S. A., Okagbue, H. I., & Odukoya, J. A. (2020). Statistical analysis of childhood and early adolescent externalizing behaviors in a middle low income country. Heliyon, 6(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03377
Chikaodi, O., Abdulmanan, Y., Emmanuel, A. T., Muhammad, J., Mohammed, M. A., Izegboya, A., Donald, O. O., & Balarabe, S. (2019). Bullying, its effects on attitude towards class attendance and the contribution of physical and dentofacial features among adolescents in Northern Nigeria. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 31(2), 20160149. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2016-0149
Esere, M. O., & Mustapha, M. L. (2018). Counselling strategies for modifying bullying behaviour in Nigerian schools. KIU Journal of Humanities, 3(2), 249–264.
Esther, O. O., Joseph, E., Oliemen, P., Olukayode, A. F., & Ann, O. O. (2023). Prevalence and pattern of traditional bullying, amongst secondary school students in Yenagoa, Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Disease & Health, 44(20), 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ijtdh/2023/v44i201484
Fareo, D. O. (2015). Bullying in Nigerian secondary schools: Strategies for counseling intervention. Educational Research and Reviews, 10(4), 435–443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2012.239
Fenny, O. A. (2022). Low self-control and school bullying: Testing the GTC in Nigerian sample of middle school students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(13–14), NP11386–NP11412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260521991286
Fenny, O., & Falola, M. I. (2020). Prevalence and correlates of bullying behavior among Nigerian middle school students. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 64(5), 564–585. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20902045
Folayan, M. O., Oginni, O., Arowolo, O., & El Tantawi, M. (2020). Association between adverse childhood experiences, bullying, self-esteem, resilience, social support, caries and oral hygiene in children and adolescents in sub-urban Nigeria. BMC Oral Health, 20, 1–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-020-01160-0
Gabriel-Job, N., & Azubogu, U. (2022). Bullying behaviour: Experience in secondary schools in Obio Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Medicine and Health, 20(7), 1–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ajmah/2022/v20i730470
Ghuge, S., Akarte, M., & Raut, R. (2024). Decision-making frameworks in additive manufacturing management: mapping present landscape and establishing future research avenues. Benchmarking: An International Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-12-2023-0845
Johansson, S., & Englund, G. (2021). Cyberbullying and its relationship with physical, verbal, and relational bullying: A structural equation modelling approach. Educational Psychology, 41(3), 320–337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2020.1769033
Mustapha, M. L. A., Muhammed, S. A., Tiamiyu, K. A., & Okesina, F. A. (2023). Parental factors as predictors of in-school adolescents’bullying behaviors in Kwara State, Nigeria. Különleges Bánásmód-Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat, 9(1), 73–88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18458/KB.2023.1.73
Nwabueze, A., Adekeye, O., Adejumo, G. O., Adeusi, S. O., Omumu, F., & Chenube, O. (2022). Efficacy of therapeutic role-play on bullying perpetration among secondary school students in Lagos State. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 10(E), 1707–1712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.10317
Nwufo, J. I., & Nwoke, M. B. (2018). Cyber bullying in contemporary Nigeria: Implications on youths’psychological wellbeing. Practicum Psychologia, 8(1).
Ogboghodo, E. O., Omuemu, V. O., Esene, H. A., Oko-oboh, G. A., Isara, A. R., & Isah, E. C. (2017). A comparative assessment of bullying among in-school adolescents in an urban and rural setting in Southern Nigeria. The Nigerian Health Journal, 17(4), 135–147.
Olabiyi, O. B. (2021). Impact of bullying on psychosocial adjustment of school-aged children in Nigeria. Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies, 2, 229–241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47362/EJSSS.2021.2214
Oladosu, A., Abiodun, O., & Tunde-Ayinmode, M. (2021). Self reported experience of physical abuse in schools in Nigeria. European Psychiatry, 64(S1), S713–S713. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1888
Olumide, A. O., Adams, P., & Amodu, O. K. (2015). International note: Awareness and context of cyber‐harassment among secondary school students in Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of Adolescence, 39(1), 10–14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.12.001
Oluwamumibori, V. A., Adetunde, C., Ola, G. T., Imhonopi, D., Egharevba, M., Jegede, A., & Ajayi, M. (2022). Bullying and academic performance: A study of selected secondary schools in Lagos, Nigeria. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 13(5), 66–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36941/mjss-2022-0039
Oputa, O. N. (2020). Disciplinary practices, bullying and the making of boys and girls: A qualitative case study research in a secondary school in Nigeria. SOAS University of London.
Pintas, J. T., Fernandes, L. A. F., & Garcia, A. C. B. (2021). Feature selection methods for text classification: A systematic literature review. Artificial Intelligence Review, 54(8), 6149–6200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-021-09970-6
Raji, I. A., Bashir, S. S., Stephen, A. A., Umeokonkwo, C. D., Abubakar, A. U., & Sabitu, K. (2021). Predictors of bullying perpetration among adolescents attending secondary schools in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria, 2019. Pan African Medical Journal, 39(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2021.39.49.22690
Torkos, H., & Anwer, A. L. I. (2022). Involvement of teenagers in the behavior of bullying & cyber violence. Journal Plus Education, 31(2), 72–82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24250/JPE/2/2022/HT/AA
Umoke, P. C. I., Umoke, M., Ugwuanyi, C. S., Okeke, C. I. O., Eseadi, C., Onuorah, A. R., Ugwu, G. C., Obiweluozo, P. E., Uzodinma, U. E., & Uwakwe, R. C. (2020). Bullying experience of pupils in Nigerian primary schools. Medicine, 99(39), e22409. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000022409
Waasdorp, T. E., & Bradshaw, C. P. (2015). The overlap between cyberbullying and traditional bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56(5), 483–488. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.12.002
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Chinedu I Okoro, Nazrin Guliyeva, Kelechi Chidiebere Eze, Clarisse Mbang (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.