Family Dynamics and Social Adjustment of Secondary School Students in Uyo and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between family dynamics and the social adjustment of secondary school students in the Uyo and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship between family cohesion, family communication, parenting style, and social adjustment of students. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population of the study consisted of 8,065 secondary school students, while a sample of 667 SS II students was selected using the proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Family Dynamics and Social Adjustment Questionnaire (FDSAQ)”. The instrument was validated by experts in guidance and counseling and measurement and evaluation, and its internal consistency reliability was established using the Cronbach alpha method, which yielded an overall coefficient of 0.80. Data collected were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistics to answer the research questions and test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that family cohesion and family communication have strong positive relationships with social adjustment, while parenting style has a very strong positive relationship with social adjustment of secondary school students. All the relationships were found to be statistically significant. Based on these findings, the study concluded that family dynamics play a significant role in enhancing the social adjustment of secondary school students. It was recommended among others that parents should maintain strong emotional bonds, practice effective communication, and adopt appropriate parenting styles to enhance students’ social adjustment