PSYCHOSOCIAL VARIABLES INFLUENCING UNDERGRADUATES’ PRONENESS TO CULTISM IN UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

Abstract

The study examined psychosocial variables influencing undergraduates’ proneness to cultism in University of Port Harcourt. The study used the ex-post-facto research design. Two research questions and two corresponding null hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study comprised all 1, 418 students residing in the hostels in University of Port Harcourt. A sample size of 300 students was drawn for the study using the purposive sampling technique. A self-designed instrument (questionnaire) titled; Proneness to Cultism Inventory (PCI) was used to collect data for the study. The Crobach Alpha was used to determine the reliability of the instrument, the reliability coefficient obtained was 0.81. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while hypotheses were tested with t-test analysis. The finding of the study revealed that peer pressure and low self-esteem significantly influence undergraduates’ proneness to cultism in University of Port Harcourt. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that parents and care givers should endeavour to check and moderate the activities of their children/wards from time to time to enhance the reduction of some risky and mischievous behaviours that students get involved in especially in their privacy both at home and in school. Moreso, the University Authority should enforce strict disciplinary measures prohibiting any form of cultism among students.