Impact of Social-Support-Technique on Management of Separation-Anxiety among Student-Victims of Armed Banditry in Gusau Metropolis, Zamfara State, Nigeria

This study investigated impact of social support technique on management of separation-anxiety among student-victims of armed banditry in Gusau metropolis. The study was guided by two objectives which were transformed in to hypotheses. The study employed pre-test post-test quasi experimental research design with the population of 15 student-victims who exhibited separation anxiety as identified using Spence Anxiety Scale, (1994). A sample of 10 student-victims with higher symptoms was used. The instrument used for data collection was an adapted Severity Measure for Separation Anxiety Disorder. It has a total of 20 items measuring physical and behavioural components of separation anxiety. The instrument was measured on five Point-Likert scale with a reliability coefficient of .763. Data collected were on pre-test, treatment sessions and post-test respectively. The results of the study revealed that social support technique has significant effect in managing physical symptoms of separation anxiety p= .000. similarly, social support technique has significant effect in managing behavioural symptoms of separation anxiety p= .000. Based on the findings of the study it was concluded that social support technique has significant effect in managing physical and behavioral symptoms of separation anxiety. It was recommended that Government should employ experts with adequate training in the use of social support technique in the schools to assist students how to deal with separation anxiety problems and teachers should be sensitized how to observe separation anxiety symptoms and invite experts for treatment interventions. Keywords: Social Support Technique, Separation Anxiety, Armed Banditry