BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS AS PREDICTORS OF RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AMONG UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN NIGERIA’S SOUTHEAST

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between behavioural disorders and risky sexual
behaviour among undergraduate university students in South East, Nigeria. The study was
guided by seven null hypotheses, which were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The research
design utilized in the study was correlation design. The population of the study comprised
169,000 regular students in the 10 public universities in South East Nigeria. The study sample
comprised 1,200 regular undergraduates obtained through simple random sampling from six
public universities in three out of the five states that constitute the South East. Three selfreport instruments: the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification Questionnaire
(ADHDIQ), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Identification Questionnaire (OCDIQ), and the
Undergraduates’ Risky Sexual Behaviour Questionnaire (URSBQ) were used in collecting
data. These instruments were validated by three experts. Cronbach Alpha statistics was used
in determining the reliability index of the ADHDIQ (0.88) and OCDIQ (0.75), both of which
sought non-categorical data, while Kuder-Richardson 20 statistic was used in determining
the reliability index of the URSBQ (0.81), which sought categorical data. The research
questions were answered using Point Biserial Correlation, while six null hypotheses were
tested using multiple linear regression Point Biserial Correlation at 0.05 level of significance.
The seventh null hypothesis was tested using multiple linear regression analysis at 0.05 level
of significance. Findings indicated that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) had
non-significant low positive relationship with early sexual debut, and had a non-significant
low negative relationship with random sexual activity and disregard for protection during sex
(subscales of risky sexual behaviour). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was found to
have significant low negative relationship with the three subscales of Risky Sexual Behaviour
(RSB). Both behavioural disorders contributed 6.70 percent of the variations in the responses
on risky sexual behaviour, therefore were unable to predict RSB among university students in
South East, Nigeria. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated (R = .067; R2 = .004;
F = 1.515) that the predictor variable (behavioural disorders) contributed only 0.4 percent
in explaining the variances in response. Therefore, the study concluded that behavioural
disorders do not significantly predict risky behaviour among university students in South East,
Nigeria. The study recommended among others, that government should populate counseling
units of public universities with persons that possess behaviour management skills, and that
sex education should start as early as possible in order to inculcate sexual values on time.
Suggestions were made for further research.