ADOLESCENTS’ SELF-CONCEPT AS CORRELATE OF THEIR SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A study of adolescents’ self-concept is critical as the period is marked by all sorts of deviant behaviours that constitute societal problems like drug abuse and usage, alcoholism, sexual assaults among many others. This study in essence investigated adolescents’ self-concept as correlate of their social adjustment in Onitsha Education zone, Anambra State. Three research questions guided the study while one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Correlational survey research design was adopted for this study. The population of the study comprised 15,816 secondary school adolescents from which a sample size of 1,440 adolescents was selected using simple random sampling and disproportionate stratified random sampling techniques. Two research instruments, namely: Adolescent’s Self-concept Questionnaire” (ASCQ) and Adolescents’ Social Adjustment Questionnaire (ASAQ) were used for the study. The instruments were duly validated by experts before it was used in conducting this study. The reliability of the instrument is as follows: 0.972 for ASQ, and 0.928 for ASAQ. Data was collected through direct delivery method. Research questions 1 to 2 were answered using summated scores, while research questions 3 was answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients. One null hypothesis was tested using regression analysis. The findings of the study revealed among others that secondary school adolescent’ self-concepts correlate significantly to their social adjustment. It was recommended among others that in order to impact or maintain the positive self-concepts of students, the Guidance counsellors in schools should organized programmes in school that will help to provide the students adequate orientation towards the development of positive self-concept which would likely contribute significantly to their social adjustment in schools.