EFFECT OF SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY ON EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM OF JUNIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS EXPOSED TO CONFLICT IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The researcher was motivated by the conflicts that junior secondary school students are exposed to. Consequently, this study investigated the effect of solution-focused therapy on emotional adjustment and self-esteem of junior secondary school exposed to conflicts in Gombe State. Two research questions were posed and two hypotheses were equally testes at 0.05 level of significance. The study was carried out using true experimental design which consisted of pre-test and post-test control group design. The experimental group was treated with solution-focused therapy while the control group was treated with conventional counselling. The population of the study consisted of 60 junior secondary school students exposed to conflicts. The sample of the study was comprised of 30 students from each aim which was drawn through sampling technic. The instrument for data collection is Pscho-social Adjustment Scale (PAS) for junior secondary schools exposed to conflicts and Academic Achievement Test (AAT). Data relating to research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were analysed using T-test. Findings of the study revealed that solution-focused therapy were effective in emotional adjustment and self-esteem of students exposed to conflicts. Based on the finding the following recommendations were made among which are the study recommended that the Federal Ministry of Education, the State and Local Government should facilitate the implementation of entrepreneurship and civic education curriculum for  junior secondary schools and all areas prone to crises for a permanent resolution of crises and behaviour control in those areas throughout the country.