Yunia Khaira

Bullying is a problem in educational settings associated with students’ psychological conditions and learning processes. However, research on the relationship between bullying and students’ interest in learning in Islamic Religious Education (PAI) and Character Education at the junior high school level, particularly at SMPN 02 Sungai Beremas Pasaman Barat, remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between bullying and students’ interest in learning in PAI and Character Education. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational design involving 45 eighth-grade students at SMPN 02 Sungai Beremas Pasaman Barat. Data were collected through questionnaires and documentation and analyzed using normality tests, linearity tests, and Pearson’s product–moment correlation with IBM SPSS Statistics 27. The analysis revealed a significant relationship between bullying and students’ interest in learning (r = .531; p < .001), with a moderately strong correlation. Based on the instrument’s scoring system, this relationship was interpreted as indicating that lower levels of bullying were associated with greater interest in learning. These findings contribute to the empirical evidence on the association between bullying and interest in learning in PAI and Character Education and underscore the importance of a safe and comfortable learning environment. The practical implication is that schools need to address bullying prevention as part of their efforts to support students’ interest in learning. Future research should involve a broader sample, examine a wider range of variables, and employ more comprehensive data collection methods.