AN ASSESSMENT OF EMOTIONAL STRESS AND SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM DIVORCED FAMILIES IN KANO METROPOLIS NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assesses the level of emotional stress and school adjustment among senior secondary school students from divorced families in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. A correlational design was employed for the study. The population of the study was 481 males and females SS II students from divorced families among senior secondary school students in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. A sample of 215 students were used in this study. Two instruments stress questionnaire and school adjustment questionnaire were used in data collection. Data collected in this study were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20.0 software. Percentages, frequency, mean, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were calculated. The result indicated that there is high emotional stress among senior secondary student from divorced families in Kano Metropolis (mean = 50.67: SD = 93.07). The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance and revealed that there is significant negative relationship between emotional stress and school adjustment among senior secondary school students from divorced families (r = -.669, p= 0.002). Based on this of findings, the study concluded that there is a negative relationship between emotional stress and school adjustment among senior secondary school students from divorced families. The study recommended the need for students who experience emotional stress to be referred to school psychologists and counselors who should assist them to enable them cope with stress. The study also recommended the need for the establishment school psychologists’ units across all secondary schools in Kano Metropolis.