Perception of Female Social Studies Students on Implications of Substance Abuse on Socio-Emotional Adjustments of Victims in Colleges of Education, North-West, Nigeria.

Abstract This study assessed perception of female Social Studies students on implications of substance abuse on socio-emotional aspects with specific regards to Social and emotional adjustments of victims in Colleges of Education in North-West, Nigeria. The research design employed for this study was descriptive survey design and the study used a structured questionnaire for data collection from female social studies students. The instrument utilized in this research underwent a rigorous validation process to ensure its content, structure, and face validity from supervisors and experts in English and statistics for their evaluation. A pilot study was conducted with 30 undergraduate Social Studies students. These students, who served as pilot respondents, were not part of the study sample. The reliability coefficient was determined using Cronbach's alpha method and the analysis revealed a reliability coefficient of 0.795 for the instrument. The population of the study was 2798 NCE Social Studies female students and sample size of the study was 333 based on Improved Research Advisor (2010). The researcher employed proportionate sampling techniques in which six (6) colleges were proportionately chosen, and the required sample size was then selected from these Colleges of Education. A total of 333 respondents were issued with the questionnaire but 304 successfully completed their copies making 91.3% response rate used for the study. Data collected were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM version 26. Statistical procedures used included frequencies and percentages, means and standard deviation. Findings revealed substance abuse has significant and negative influence on social and emotional adjustment of female Social Studies students involved in the act within the selected Colleges of Education. Among others it was found that substance abuse negatively influences socio-emotional aspects of female Social Studies students involved. The study concluded that substance abuse has major negative influences on social adjustment and emotional adjustment of the female students involved in the act within the selected Colleges of Education. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that management of the Colleges should institute periodic orientation on drug abuse for students along guidance and counseling for students in Colleges of Education within the North West zone in Nigeria.