SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT ON FEMALE STUDENTS IN SOME TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN EKITI STATE: IMPACT ON EMOTIONAL STABILITY

Awe Ene Norah

Abstract


The rate of sexual harassment against female students in Nigeria tertiary institutions is becoming increasingly worrisome. Sexual abuse is a universal public health problem that is experienced across all cultures, social class et cetera. However, this act has great impact on the emotional stability of these victims. But fear of stigmatisation and avoidance has hindered many victims from pressing charges against the culprits giving the crime a deeper root particularly in this part of the world. The objective of this study therefore is to examine the emotional stability or instability of students who have been sexually abused in some selected tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. Primary and secondary sources of data collection were applied in this study. The study made use of descriptive survey design with structured Likert scale questionnaire administered to 396 students randomly selected across three tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. The hypothesis of this study was analysed using simple linear regression as statistical technique with the aid of SPSS version 22.0 for Windows. The findings of the study showed that sexual harassment of female students exerts statistically significant negative effects on emotional stability of the victims. In conclusion, sexual harassment of whatever dimensions exerts severe consequences on mental health of victim. In the light of the lingering effects  of the vice on the victim 's mental health, counseling units should be established across all tertiary institutions with professional caregivers employed to provide listening ears to helpless victims as well as succor to their predicament.


Keywords


Sexual Harassment, Female Students, Tertiary Education, Emotional Trauma, Therapy.

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