Title: Cyberbullying as a correlate of primary school pupils' mental health in Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State.
Authors: Ganiyu Akanbi Yusuf, Mulikat Abiola Ganiyu, Saheed Alabi Sulaiman
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
Pages: 41-45
Publication Date: 2025/03/28
Abstract:
It has been established that cyberbullying poses a significant threat to pupils' mental health, contributing to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. This study examined cyberbullying as a correlate of primary school pupils' mental health in Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State. A descriptive survey design was adopted as the research methodology. The study population consisted of all 437 primary six pupils in Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State. Using a purposive sampling technique, 200 pupils who familiar with internet use were selected. Data were collected through a questionnaire titled Cyberbullying on Pupils' Mental Health (QPMH), designed with a four-point Likert scale (Always, Almost Always, Rarely, and Never). Research assistants administered the questionnaire, which was validated by selected teachers. To ensure reliability, 25 final draft copies were trial tested twice on randomly chosen pupils outside the sample schools, and the reliability index of the instrument was determined using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (0.76).Both inferential and descriptive statistical analyses were employed to analyse the collected data. Descriptive statistics using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) were used to analyse Research Question One, while an independent t-test was used to test Research Question Two at a significance level of 0.05. Findings revealed a strong connection between cyberbullying and primary school pupils' mental health, with no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1.856; df = 198; p > 0.05).It was concluded that cyberbullying has caused more harm than good, significantly impacting the mental health of primary school pupils. Among the recommendations, parents and teachers should actively monitor pupils' online activities and provide guidance on responsible internet use.