Socio-Demographic Variables as Predictors of Academic Resilience among In-School Adolescents in Imo State

Abstract

This study examined socio-demographic variables as predictors of academic resilience among in-school adolescents in Imo State. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The correlation survey research design was adopted for this study. The population for this study comprises of 22, 159 SS 2 in-school adolescents in government owned secondary schools in Imo State. The sample for this study comprised 387 SS 2 in-school adolescents drawn from the six education zones in Imo state. This sample size was estimated using the Taro Yamane formula. The instruments for data collection are the student’s socio-demographic information and the academic resilience questionnaire which contains 12 items. The instruments were subjected to face and content validity by experts. The instruments for data collection were subjected to reliability test. Kuder-Richardson formula was used to establish reliability for the student’s socio-demographic information and yielded a coefficient of 0.73. The academic resilience questionnaire yielded a reliability index of 0.89. The administration of the instrument for data collection was done through direct delivery approach. Data relating to research questions 1-2 were analyzed using simple regression analysis, while research question 3 was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Similarly, simple and multiple regression analysis were used also to test null hypotheses 1-3. The findings of this study revealed that in-school adolescents’ age is a significant predictor of their academic resilience in Imo state. Parent’s educational level is a significant predictor of academic resilience of in-school adolescents in Imo state. Socio-demographic variables (in-school adolescents’ age, parent’s educational level) significantly predict academic resilience of in-school adolescents in Imo State. Conclusions were drawn and it was recommended among others that conferences and seminars should be organized for teachers to enlighten them on the different traits possessed by in-school adolescence. The conference will also throw light on the teaching strategies and management techniques for different skills.