Psychosocial Correlates of Childhood Sexual Exploitation among Secondary School Students in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
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Abstract
Sexual exploitation experienced in childhood or adolescence is a negative eventful developmental experience that occurs in the lifetime of a child that can have profound, long-term physiologic and psychosocial effects (Banyard, Williams, & Siegel, 2001; Cicchetti & Rogosch, 2001; DeBellis, 2001). The long-term physiological effect in term of the alteration in their biological composition of their body like the broken of the hymen which in turn lead to loss of virginity as a result of their first contact sexual experience; even some experience serious and abnormal bleeding from their virginal leaving the exploitation child with intense psychological and social stress specifically, posttraumatic state. This study examines the psychosocial correlates of child sexual exploitation among secondary school students in Keffi, NasarawaState. A total of 250 secondary school students which consist of 117 male and 133 female from three selected school public school secondary schools in Keffi Local government area of Nasarawa state participated in the study. A simple randomize sampling technique was used and survey research method was adopted for this cross-sectional research design. History of childhood sexual exploitation questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-esteem scale and Parenting style scale” Three hypotheses were formulated using correlation matrix, multiple regression and Pearson. The result revealed that parenting style is positively and significantly related to child sexual exploitation (r = .241; df(248); P<01). The study also indicated that self-esteem and parenting style jointly and independently influence child sexual exploitation [R2 = .364, F=9.34, P<.01]. The predictor variables accounted for 13% of the total variation on child sexual exploitation among secondary school students. Lastly, there is significant negative relationship between self-esteem and child sexual exploitation among secondary school students (r = -.284; df= 248; P<.01). in conclusion, the study established that self-esteem and parenting style are significantly related to child sexual exploitation among secondary schools in the selected schools. It was therefore recommended that factors prompting children to sexual exploitation should be highly discouraged and abolished; educating children about sex and their biological make-up and changes especially the female children.
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