Influence of Social Anxiety and Peer Acceptance on Adolescents’ Social Adjustment in Nigerian Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study examines the influence of social anxiety and peer acceptance on adolescents’ social adjustment among secondary school students in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. To carry out the study, four hypotheses were formulated and tested. A descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study. The sample of the study consisted of 350 students comprising 175 males and 175 females selected through stratified random sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The hypotheses formulated in this study were tested with t-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study showed a significant influence of social anxiety on adolescents’ social adjustment, a significant influence of peer acceptance on adolescents’ social adjustment, a significant gender difference in the extent of social anxiety among adolescents, and a significant gender difference in the extent of peer acceptance among adolescents. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that school authorities provide a learning environment that eliminates the potential for occurrences of social anxiety. Adolescents should be encouraged to avoid following peers or friends who have negative attitude or influence. Rather, they should follow only those who can influence them positively.