The Relationship Between Gender-Based Violence and Psychosocial Adjustment of Adolescent Girls in Secondary Schools.

• In Event: AERA Research-in-Progress Roundtable Session 1
  In Invited Roundtable: Feminist Perspectives on Equity and Gender-Based Violence in Secondary and Postsecondary Education Environments (Table 14)

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a growing concern due to its psychological and social effects on young people, particularly adolescent girls. This study examined the relationship between GBV and psychosocial adjustment of adolescent girls in Lagos State secondary schools. Using a descriptive survey design, 153 female students from three all-girls schools were purposively and randomly selected. Data were collected with a self-structured questionnaire based on the Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS) tool and WHO Violence Against Women (WHOVAW) instrument. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between GBV and psychosocial adjustment, except for sexual violence. Recommendations include sensitization programs by counseling psychologists to address GBV and its psychosocial impacts while equipping stakeholders to identify maladjustment signs.

Author

• Opeyemi John Ogunyomi, Texas Tech University