EFFECT OF PEER-MEDIATED COUNSELLING ON RESILIENCE AND SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT AMONG ORPHANED AND VULNERABLE ADOLESCENTS IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the effect of peer-mediated counseling on resilience and school adjustment among orphaned and vulnerable adolescents in Jos metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria. the study was motivated by the increasing psychosocial and academic challenges faced by orphaned and vulnerable children, which often result in low resilience and poor adjustment to school environments. A quasi-experimental research design, specifically the pretest, posttest control group design was adopted. The population of the study consisted of all orphaned and vulnerable adolescents in public secondary schools in Jos metropolis. The sample consisted of 96 adolescents selected from public secondary schools using a multi-stage sampling, purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques assigned to experimental and control groups, over a period of 8 weeks. Data were collected using a structured instrument titled “Peer-Mediated Counselling on Resilience and School Adjustment Questionnaire (PMCRSAQ)” which was validated by experts in Counselling, Educational Psychology, and Research, Measurement and Evaluation in Faculty of Education, University of Jos. The reliability was ensured through Cronbach Alpha method, which gave an index of 0.78. Data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation, and t-tests at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that peer-mediated counselling had a significant positive effect on both resilience and school adjustment among the students. There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in favour of the students who participated in the intervention. The study concluded that peer-mediated counselling is an effective and practical intervention for enhancing psychosocial well-being and academic adjustment among orphaned and vulnerable students. It was therefore recommended that schools integrate peer counselling programmes into their guidance services to support vulnerable learners.