Parental Psychological Control, Self-esteem, and Peer Influence as Predictors of Bullying Behaviour among Adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria
Bullying is an increasing issue in various societies, particularly in Nigeria, where adolescent violent behaviour is becoming culturally normalised. This trend is concerning, as it can contribute to crime and other social problems. Parents and caregivers often either tolerate or inadvertently encourage this behaviour, indicating a lack of attention to the well-being of young individuals. To address these challenges, the present study aimed to examine whether parental psychological control, self-esteem, and peer influence would predict bullying behaviour among adolescents. Two hundred and fifty secondary school students (n = 250; 98 (39.2%) males and 152(60.8%) females; age = 13 to 19 years; M = 16.39, SD = 1.39) selected from public secondary schools in Anambra State through the use of a multistage sampling technique participated in this study. The data were collected using the Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Peer Influence questionnaire. A predictive correlational design was adopted for the study, while hierarchical multiple regression was employed to analyse the data. The result showed that parental psychological control (β = .22, p < .001) and peer influence (β = .49, p < .001). Positively and significantly predicted bullying behaviour among adolescents. In contrast, self-esteem (β = -.54, p < .001) negatively predicted bullying behaviour. All predictors significantly determined bullying behaviour (F (3,243) = 26.50, p < .001), explaining 38% (R² = .38) of the variation. The study highlights the importance of raising public awareness about the potential implications of bullying behaviour, particularly in schools, homes, and social environments.