SEX, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND SELF EFFICACY ON LEVELS OF HOPE OF ADOLESCENTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of parental socio-economic status, and perceived self-efficacy on hope in adolescents. This study became necessary as adolescents are living in a frustrating world, deprived of traditional social support, an unstable economy characterised by galloping inflation and massive unemployment.130 students in higher institution and graduates within the ages 19 -30 years participated in the study by completing the author developed 15 item hope and self-efficacy scale, which measured their hope in education, law enforcement agencies, politics, economy, security, health and the nation in general. Pooled data treated with the Student t-test of the matched sample revealed that adolescents differ in their hope. Males reported higher hope than females. And both reported less hope in the institutions in the country and a high hope in themselves, and as such belief in what they can do to escape the felt poverty. The study made recommendations based on the context of the study. KEYWORDS: Hope, adolescents, nation induced poverty, frustration, lack of hope, and ongoing distress