Middle Childhood Trauma and Social Media Use and Anxiety Disorders Among Junior Secondary School Students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17605/cajssh.v7i2.1302Keywords:
Middle Childhood Trauma, Social Media Use, Anxiety DisordersAbstract
This study investigates the correlation between middle childhood trauma, social media use, and anxiety disorders among junior secondary school students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria. A correlational research design was employed, guided by three research questions and three null hypotheses. The population consisted of 2,000 junior secondary school students, from which a sample of 200 students was determined through the systematic sampling technique. A self-constructed instrument, "Middle Childhood Trauma, Social Media Use, and Students' Anxiety Disorder Scale (MCTSMUSADS)," was used for data collection. The instrument comprised two sections: demographic data and Middle Childhood Trauma, Social Media Use, and Students' Anxiety Disorder subscales, modified on a four-point Likert scale. The instrument's validity was ensured through expert validation, and reliability was determined using the test-retest method, yielding reliability indices of 0.79 for Physical Abuse, 0.80 for Sexual Abuse, 0.82 for Cyberbullying Abuse, and 0.83 for Students' Anxiety Disorder. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to answer research questions and test null hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level using SPSS version 25. Findings revealed significant correlations between physical abuse, sexual abuse, cyberbullying abuse, and anxiety disorders among junior secondary school students. The study recommends that schools provide access to trained counselors and psychologists for early intervention and ongoing support. Regular mental health screenings and counseling sessions can help identify at-risk students and provide necessary support.
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