ADOLESCENTS

This study investigated the impact of social media on body image and selfesteem among
adolescents. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to enable systematic collection of information from adolescents within their everyday environment. The target population comprised students aged 13–19 years from selected secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area. Using a simple random sampling method, 150 respondents were selected for participation. Data were collected using a structured instrument developed by the researcher, which included sections on demographic data, types and frequency of social media use, perceived body image, measures of self-esteem, and coping mechanisms adopted by adolescents. To establish content validity, the draft instrument was critically reviewed by the project supervisor and two specialists in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education; their recommendations were incorporated prior to final administration. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested using the test–retest technique, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.79, which indicates acceptable consistency for the measures employed. The researcher personally administered all 150 copies of the questionnaire with assistance, and all were retrieved and used for analysis. Collected data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations to sum Findings from the study revealed that social media greatly influences how adolescents in
secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area perceive their bodies. It makes them more conscious of their appearance and promotes unrealistic beauty standards. The study also found that adolescents feel more confident after receiving many likes and comments on their social media posts and feel bad when they get fewer likes than expected. Furthermore, fashion and beauty posts, celebrity lifestyles, and friends’ photos were identified as the most influential social media contents among adolescents. Instagram and TikTok were found to be the most engaging platforms, while chatting with friends and watching videos were the most common social media activities. The study also showed that most adolescents adopt positive coping mechanisms such as avoiding insecure accounts, reducing social media use, and following body positivity pages, while only a few engage in harmful behaviors such as skipping meals or
avoiding social activities because of social media pressure. Based on these findings, it was concluded that social media has a strong influence on adolescents’ perception of body image and self-esteem. Although it can enhance confidence and social connection, it can also create pressure and unrealistic standards that affect adolescents’ mental and emotional well-being. The study therefore recommends proper guidance and education on healthy social media use among adolescents to promote a positive sense of self and body acceptance.

The study examined the influence of parental factors and career aspiration ofinternally displaced adolescents in Abuja Municipal area council, FCT. To guide this study, four research questions were raised and four hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study comprised 400 IDP adolescents enrolled in school within the Abuja Municipal area council. The sample size for this study was one hundred (100) adolescents living in IDP camps. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The instruments used for the study was a self structured questionnaire titled, Parental factors and career aspiration questionnaire (PFCAQ) The instruments was validated by three experts in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology University of Benin. The reliability of the instrument was established through internal consistency using Cronbach alpha statistics which yielded reliability index of .858 as composite value while the subscale of occupation has .723 reliability value, education has reliability of .668, socio- economic status has the reliability co-efficient value of .599 and the family type has the reliability co-efficient of .666 respectively. Frequency tables, mean scores, standard deviation were used to test formulated hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level using linear regression. The findings of the study revealed no significant influence of parents’ level of education, parents’ occupation, socioeconomic status, or family type on the career aspirations of the adolescents in IDP Camps. The findings also revealed that the usual parental influence on career choices weakens in displacement conditions. The study concluded that in internally displacement contexts, career aspirations are shaped more by environmental exposure and support systems within the camp than by parental background. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends that career guidance programmes in IDP schools be strengthened, NGOs increase vocational and psychosocial support, educational resources in camps be improved, and parents be empowered with counselling and
parents support.