REGRESSION MODEL FOR PREDICTING UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT BASED ON PAEDOPHILIC TENDENCY AND PORNOGRAPHIC ADDICTION

Abstract

This study investigated the predictive power of paedophilic tendency and pornographic addiction on the sexual behaviour and school adjustment of university undergraduates in South-East Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the individual and joint predictive power of paedophilic tendency and pornographic addiction on sexual behaviour and school adjustment and derived regression models for predicting the criterion variables. Eight research questions and eight null hypotheses guided the study. A correlational survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 148,712 undergraduate students in federal universities in South-East Nigeria during the 2024/2025 academic session. A sample of 1,148 respondents was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Three instruments were used for data collection, namely the researcher-developed Paedophilic Tendency Scale (PTS), Pornographic Addiction Scale (PAS) and School Adjustment Scale (SAS). The instruments were face-validated by three experts from the Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients of 0.76, 0.79, and 0.74 were obtained for the PTS, PAS and SAS, respectively. Data were collected using Google Forms and analysed using Simple and Multiple Linear Regression analyses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that paedophilic tendency significantly predicted university undergraduates' school adjustment (R = 0.357, R² = 0.128, p < .05). Pornographic addiction also significantly predicted school adjustment (R = 0.411, R² = 0.169, p < .05). Furthermore, paedophilic tendency and pornographic addiction jointly and significantly predicted school adjustment (R = 0.420, R² = 0.176, F = 122.333, p < .05). The derived regression models further indicated that pornographic addiction made the strongest contribution to the prediction of school adjustment, while paedophilic tendency also contributed significantly. The study concluded that paedophilic tendency and pornographic addiction are significant predictors of university undergraduates' school adjustment, with pornographic addiction exerting the stronger predictive influence. The study recommended that universities should strengthen counselling and mental health services, implement comprehensive sexuality and digital wellness education programmes, establish early identification and intervention mechanisms for students exhibiting maladaptive behavioural tendencies, and promote responsible internet use to enhance students' psychosocial well-being and school adjustment.