INFLUENCE OF MATERNAL EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT LEVELS ON PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF ADOLESCENTS IN ANAMBRA STATE
ABSTRACT
This study was embarked upon to determine the influence of maternal educational attainment levels on the psychosocial adjustments of adolescents in secondary schools in Anambra State, Nigeria. This study was carried out in three education zones, Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi in Anambra State. It utilized the descriptive survey research design. Four research questions and four hyotheses guided the study. The total population of the study was 18,592 of SS 2 students while sample size was 1,020 students (510 males and 510 females) selected using multistage process. The instrument for data collection was the Psychosocial Adjustment Questionnaire, tagged ‘PAQ’. The PAQ was duly validated by three experts, and its reliability tested using the Cronbach Alpha technique which yeilded a coefficient of 0.85. The research questions were answered using the mean while the null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance, using ANOVA.The major findings from the study was that the psychosocial adjustment score of adolescents whose mothers are highly educated were higher than those of the adolescents whose mothers have average and low educational attainment levels. Following the findings, it was concluded that maternal educational attainments significantly influence the psychosocial adustments of adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria. It was recommended that teachers should employ individualized instructional strategies in classrooms so that adolescents’ unique challenges which perhaps emanate from low maternal monitoring and academic support could be addressed. Government and international donors should also make efforts to give special assistance to mothers, especially younger mothers with low educational attainment, to enable them engage in Adult Education Programmes. The knowlegde and skills acquired through such progammes would equip them to assist their children in their educational pursuits and overall life endeavours.