Abstract
This study examined the effects of social bullying on students’ academic performance in public senior schools in Rivers State. To achieve the purpose of the study, the researcher formulated 3 objectives of the study, 3 research questions and 3 null hypotheses that guided the study. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The researchers formulated. The population of the study comprised all student of senior secondary school in Rivers State, specially (SS 2) numbering 17,774 students. The sample size of the study was derived by applying the Taro Yamen’s Procedure for determining appropriate sample size. By substitution, this gave a sample size of 399,9, hence the sample size of the study was 400, which was proportionally distributed to the students. The study made use of simple random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was self-structured questionnaire titled “Effects of Social Bullying on Students Academic Performance Questionnaire. The data gathered were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while the null hypotheses were tested using t-test transformation at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the analysis, the findings of the study revealed that spreading rumors, social exclusion and public humiliation have negative effect on the students’ academic performance in public senior schools in Rivers State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that schools should empower guidance counsellors to organize regular anti-bullying and emotional resilience programs to help students cope with the psychological effects of rumors, schools should initiate clubs, social activities, and mentorship programs targeted at helping isolated students form positive peer relationships and school authorities should create strict rules against acts of public shaming, whether from teachers or peers, and apply sanctions promptly.