NIGERIAN SOCIAL CHALLENGES AND RELATIONSHIP WITH PERSONAL FUNCTIONING OF YOUTHS IN EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigerian social challenges (problems) as they concern the youths are hardly given seriouspolicy and governance attentions. This study investigated Nigerian social challenges (problems) andrelationship with personal functioning of youths in Eastern Nigeria. Participants were 174 universityundergraduates of mean-age 20.57 and SD 1.98 sampled through cluster and incidental sampling methods.The research instruments were Nigerian Social Challenges (Problems) Scale, and Personal FunctioningScale on Likert 5-point format. Cross-sectional with descriptive and Pearson statistics were used. Thefindings were that “Nigerian social challenges (problems)†correlate positively but at the average levelwith the youths’ “personal functioning†(P< 0.001> 0.000, r = 0.591, N = 174). Only “frustration†as afacet of Nigerian Social Challenges (Problems) had non-significant relationship with only “identity†as aperspective of Personal Functioning (P> 0.05< 0.076, r = .135, N = 174). Recommendations were for theNigerian youths to be equipped with behavioural skills resources necessary for managing “frustrationâ€and quest for self-identity.