Grace Onyowo Ugboha, Joshua Y. Rotshak
Abstract
This study examined managing bullying behaviour of secondary school adolescents through counselling in Jos metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria. Bullying is a form of mean, hurtful behaviour that can happen to anyone at any time. Everyone should be aware of bullying because it impacts on the safe environment, especially schools. The research was a descriptive survey using 400 respondents from 10 randomly selected secondary schools in Jos metropolis. The study was guided by four research questions, and two hypotheses. A structured questionnaire designed by the researchers on managing bullying behaviour of secondary school adolescents through counselling was used. The instrument was subjected to face validation by two experts form research, measurement and evaluation, and guidance and counselling units in the Department of Educational Foundations of University of Jos. It gave a reliability index of 0.73. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of simple percentages and t-test analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the adolescent students exhibited bullying behaviours of all the four types of oat different gravity. It was also revealed that there was a significant difference between the bullying behaviour of male and female adolescent students. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the bullying behaviour of junior and senior secondary school adolescents. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that behaviour management, self-control strategies, assertiveness training be taught to these adolescents to manage or reduce bullying behaviour in our schools.