Rima International Journal of Education (RIJE)

ISSN: 2756 – 6749(print); 3141-2033(online)

Rima International Journal of Education (RIJE)

Effects of two Counselling Therapies on Risky Sexual Behaviour among Adolescent Students in Oyo State, Nigeria

*1Udechukwu, Jane. C.; 2Okoli, Canice, E.; and 3Ubangha, Bassey, M.

*1,2 & 3Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state, Nigeria

Abstract

Risky sexual behaviour is any behaviour that puts an individual at the risk of having a sexual health issue such as contracting a sexually transmitted disease including HIV and AIDS, and unwanted pregnancy among others. Sexually transmitted infections can further lead to serious health issues like infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and even cancer. This study investigated the effects of two therapies: counter-attitudinal advocacy and emotional coaching on risky sexual behaviours among adolescents in senior secondary schools. Two theories guided this study; The Theory of Planned Behaviour and Problem-Behaviour Theory. Two research questions were raised and two hypotheses were formulated and tested. The quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group research design was used for the study. A multi-stage sampling process was used to select 106 adolescents (58 males and 48 females) who engage in risky sexual behaviour, from three local government areas in Oyo State, Nigeria. There were two treatment groups and one control group. Findings from the study revealed that there is a significant difference in the post-test scores on risky sexual behaviour of students after exposure to counter-attitudinal advocacy and emotional coaching therapy and the interaction of gender and experimental conditions did not produce significant effect on the post-test scores on risky sexual behaviour. This study recommended the integration of counter-attitudinal advocacy and emotional coaching by counsellors into interventions aimed at curbing risky sexual behaviours among adolescents.

Keywords

Adolescents, Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy, Emotional Coaching, Risky Sexual Behaviour

Reference

Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of planned behaviour. Journal Of Organisational Behaviour And Human Decision Processes 50, 179-211.

Akumiah, P.O., Sugho, J.N., Sebire, S.Y. (2020). Early life exposures and risky sexual behaviours among adolescents: A cross study in Ghana. Nigerian Medical Journal,  61(4):189-194.

Awoke, K., Bogale, M., Nadgu G. (2018). Assessment of risky sexual behaviour and practice among Aksum University students, Shire campus, Shire Town, Tigray, Ethiopia. BMC Research Notes. 11:88 https://doi.org/10.1186/S 13104-018-3199-7

Chawla, N., & Sarkar, S. (2019). Defining “High risk  sexual behaviour” in the context of substance use. Journal Of Pyschosexual Health, 1(1), 26 -31.

Dorison, C.A., and Minson, J.A. (2022). You can’t handle the truth! Conflict counterparts over-estimate each other’s feelings of self-threat. Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision. 170 (2022) 104147. https://doi.org/1016/j.obhdp.2022.104147

Gilbert, L. (2024). Promoting social and emotional learning (SEL) in settings through emotion coaching practice: A model of engagement for practitioner use. Pastoral Care in Education, 1-26 https://doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2024.2402735.

Gilbert-Roberts, T.A. (2014). CARICOM governance of youth development: Prospects for regional citizenship. Journal of Social and Economic studies, 63 (344): 59 – 106.

Mengesha, S., Enguday, T. (2020). Risky sexual behaviour and associated factors among adolescents aged 15-19 years at Governmental High Schools in Aksum Town, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019: An institution-based, cross-sectional study. Biomed Research International. 2020:1-7 https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3719845

Nhuong, T.N., Asvini, K.S., John, D.W., Reavley, N. & Garland, S.M. (2017). Psychological distress and risky sexual behaviours among women aged 16 – 25 years in Victoria, Australia. Journal of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Vol. 46. No. 12.

Nicholson, J., Marcum, C.D., Higgins, G.E. (2019). Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviour among High School students in the United States. Journal of Deviant Behaviour. 41(1):1-13 doi:10.1080/0163925.2019.1656774

Odimegwu, C., Somefun, D.O. (2017). Ethnicity, gender and risky sexual behaviour among Nigerian Youth; an alternative explanation. Journal of Reproductive Health 14(6) doi.10 1186/S12978-017-0284-7.

Rogers, K., Ranganathan, M., Kajula, L., Collins, R.L., Livingston, J.A., and Palermo, T. (2023). The influence of gender-equitable attitudes on sexual behaviour among unmarried adolescents in rural Tanzania: a longitudinal study. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters 18; 31 (1): 2260169 doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2260169.

Thepthien, B.O., Celyn (2022). Risky sexual behaviour and associated factors among sexually-experienced adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand: Findings from a school web-based survey. Journal of Reproductive Health 19, 127(2022) https://doi.org/10.1186/12978-022001429-03