Moderating Role of Self-Esteem in Interaction between Child Abuse and Bullying Behaviour among In-School Adolescents in Lagos Nigeria

Bullying among in-school adolescents is widespread worldwide and is a cause of concern. Despite its widespread, its interaction with self-esteem, child abuse and child neglect among Nigerian in-school adolescents is now well researched. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap on connections between these aforementioned variables. Using a multi-staged sampling technique, a total of 400 in-school adolescents (male 52%; female 48%) were selected from four secondary schools in Ojo local government area, Lagos state, southwestern Nigeria. The mean age of the respondents was 13.98±1.34. The students responded to the Child Abuse Scale (CAS), Multidimensional Neglectful Behaviour Scale (MNBS); the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument. Results show that there was a high prevalence of bullying behaviour among the respondents as 7.3% reported a low level of bullying behaviour, 56.0% reported a moderate level and 17.0% reported a high bullying behaviour involvement level. Child abuse and child neglect jointly and significantly predicted bullying behaviours (R = .43, R2 =.19). Self-esteem is not a strong moderator of the relationships between bullying behaviour and child abuse (ΔR2 = .00, ΔF = .42, p >.05), and between bullying behaviour and child neglect (ΔR2 = .01, ΔF = .13, p >.05). Family structures and gender were also not significant influencer of bullying behaviour among the respondents. The need to engage the services of school psychologists who would among others assess for and offer therapies for in-school adolescents involved in bullying behaviour is identified by this study and recommended.