EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF BULLYING EXPERIENCES, ATTITUDES TOWARD BULLYING, AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ON PEER INTERACTIONS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AFIJIO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OYO STATE

Peer relationships are the intricate web of interpersonal connections that students form and maintain within the school environment, standing at the heart of the educational experience. Secondary school students face varying experiences with bullying, shaped by school policies, peer dynamics, and broader social influences. This study explores bullying experiences, attitudes toward bullying, and the school Environment on Peer Interactions among secondary school students in Afijo Local Government. The study adopted a correlation survey design. The target population comprises all secondary school students in public secondary schools in Afijio Local Government. A total sample of 200 students from JSS1 to JSS3 was selected using a multistage sampling technique. A significant negative correlation was found between bullying experiences and peer interactions (r = -. 436, p<,001), indicating that students who experience bullying are more likely to have poorer social interactions. Also, bullying attitudes were found to significantly impact students' social interaction (r = -. 389, p <. 001), with more positive attitudes toward bullying associated with lower quality of social interactions. The school environment emerged as a crucial mediating factor, demonstrating a significant positive correlation with social interaction (r = .512, p < .001). The study concluded that a complex relationship exists between bullying and social interaction, emphasizing that effective interventions must address not only bullying behaviours but also the broader school climate and student attitudes. Recommendations include developing comprehensive anti-bullying strategies, enhancing school climate, implementing social-emotional learning programmes, and creating supportive intervention mechanisms to mitigate the negative impact of bullying on students' social relations.