Self-Esteem, Locus of Control and Types of Courses as Predictors of Sexting among Undergraduates (Published)
This study examines self-esteem, locus of control and types of courses as predictors of sexting among undergraduates. It employed convenience sampling design with sexting as the independent variable and types of courses, self-esteem and locus of control as the dependent variables. Three hundred participants were used for the study. The participants were drawn from the undergraduates of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State. The study anchored on Rotter’s theory of social learning (1966). The following instruments were used for data collection, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Julian Rotter scale and Sexting Motivations questionnaire. The results show that respondents with low self-esteem are likely to sext. It also shows that respondents with external locus of control will sext more than individuals with internal locus of control. Based on the above, recommendations are made on what to do to increase high self-esteem and encourage internal locus of control, hence adequate lectures should be given to enlighten individual on the importance of high self-esteem. Also, parents and the society at large should encourage opened discussion and conversation with adolescents and young adults about sex, sexting, the implications and the negative effects.
Keywords: Sexual Behaviour, Undergraduates, locus of control, self-esteem, sexting., types of courses
Mental Wellbeing among Undergraduates in Eastern Nigeria: A Function of Academic Stress, Substance Abuse and Age (Published)
Predictors of students’ mental wellbeing were studied among 348 undergraduates selected through random cluster sampling from the Faculties of Social Sciences of three higher institutions in Eastern Nigeria. Participants’ ages ranged from 16 to 33 years, with the mean age of 23.15 and a standard deviation of 3.46. Variables considered include academic stress, substance abuse, age and institution type. Descriptive Cross-Sectional Design was employed while Standard Multiple Regression and 2-Way ANOVA were adopted for data collection and analyses respectively. Results revealed that academic stress, substance abuse and age had significant inverse relationship with mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing and academic stress did not differ across gender, while type of institution influenced academic stress (P< .05). The researchers recommended stronger awareness of the implications of drug use and the re-structuring of academic programmes that can minimize stress. Also, the need for a free functional counseling unit to enable students obtain professional advice that will help promote mental well being was advocated.
Keywords: Academic Stress, Eastern Nigeria, Mental Wellbeing, Substance abuse, Undergraduates