EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY AND NEGATIVE SELF-CONCEPT AS PREDICTORS OF BEST FRIEND CONFLICT AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN AWKA CITY, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study explored emotional instability and negative self-concept as predictors of bestfriend conflict among adolescents in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, using 112 Secondary School Students,selected through simple random sampling technique of 44 boys, 68 girls, age-range 13-17, mean-age 14.61and SD 1.32. The instruments were Friendship Conflict and Betrayal Questionnaire, Emotional InstabilityScale, and Negative Self-concept Scale. The study adopted correlational design, and Multiple LinearRegressions. Results showed overall model accounted for 32.7% of best friend conflict, R=.572, R2=.327,adjusted R2=.315, (F2, 109) =26.47, p<.001. Emotional instability indicated positive significant predictionof best friend conflict at (F2, 109), β= -81, t = 4.46, p<.001; while negative self-concept negatively predictedbest friend conflict (F2, 109), β= -.89, t = -7.13, p<.01. Recommendations: Those involved in adolescentsdevelopment should be proactive in reducing adolescents’ best friend conflict, emotional instability, andnegative self-concept.