SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND FEMALE STUDENTS SUICIDAL TENDENCIES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: COUNSELLING IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

This study investigated the socio-economic challenges and suicidal tendencies of female students in Nigerian universities, with an emphasis on the counselling implications. The study tested three research questions and three hypotheses, using a descriptive survey design.

The population of the study consisted of 36,742 female students, and a sample of 396 students was selected through stratified random sampling. Data was collected using a 15-item questionnaire titled "Social and Economic Challenges and Prevention of Suicidal Tendencies Among Female Students Questionnaire" (SECPSTFSQ). The questionnaire was face and content validated, and its reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha, which produced a reliability index of 0.88.

The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation, while the hypotheses were tested using z-test at a 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated that the social challenges faced by the female students included problems in interpersonal relationships with the opposite sex and a lack of a supportive health system. The economic challenges included high cost of living and high cost of fees. The study revealed that the students require counselling interventions in building emotional resilience and coaching.

The study recommended providing special orientation for new female students on how to deal with socio-economic challenges on campus.