Demographic Determinants of Students Susceptibility to Peer Victimization in Secondary Schools in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined age, sex, class and religion as determinants of students’ susceptibility to peer victimization. Onethousand five hundred students from 10 public secondary schools were selected by stratified sampling techniqueusing class level as strata. A validated multi-dimensional peer victimization scale (MPVS) was used to collect datafor the study. Results showed that students in the age range 13-14years were more susceptible to peer victimization,there was a significant influence ofage on students’ susceptibility to peer victimization (Fc2, 1428=7.45; p<0.05).Itwas revealed that there was difference in the male and female susceptibility to peer victimization (df =1429; t= 4.72;p<0.05). It was also found that class level has significant influence on students’ susceptibility to peer victimizationwith more peer victimization at junior level (Fc2, 1428=6.95; p 0.05).Based on religion, it was found that there is asignificant influence of religion on students’ susceptibility to peer victimization (Fc2, 1412=33.47; p< 0.05) itshowed that there was a significant difference in students’ susceptibility to peer victimization based on religion.Implications for counselling support services and counsellor in schools for both at-risk (vulnerable) students and theschool authority are discussed.