EFFICACY OF COMMUNITY-BASED COUNSELLING APPROACH ON SUBSTANCE USE BEHAVIOUR AND ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENT OF YOUTHS IN OHAJI/EGBEMA AND OGUTA LGAs, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

 This study investigated the efficacy of community-based counselling approach on substance use behaviour and academic adjustment of youths in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs, Imo State, Nigeria. Anchored on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, the study adopted a quasi-experimental, pre-test post-test non-equivalent group design. A sample of 300 youths aged 15-25 years was drawn using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using the "Community-Based Counselling, Substance Use and Academic Adjustment Questionnaire - CBCSUAAQ" which had a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.84. Four research questions were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation while four null hypotheses were tested using ANCOVA and Independent t-test at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that community-based counselling approach significantly reduced substance use behaviour and improved academic adjustment of youths. There was a significant gender difference in favour of females. It was concluded that community-based counselling is an efficacious intervention for reducing substance use and enhancing academic adjustment. It was recommended that government, NGOs and community leaders should institutionalize community counselling centres and integrate counselling into youth empowerment programs.