EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY OF CHILDHOOD MALTREATMENT ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCES AND CHARACTER STRENGTHS AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the correlation between childhood maltreatment and the development of social-emotional competence and character strengths among in-school adolescents in Ibadan. A descriptive survey design was employed, and a sample of 350 participants (163 male and 187 female, aged between 12 and 20) was randomly selected from five public secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis. Data were collected using the Social Emotional Competence Questionnaire (SECQ), Childhood Maltreatment Questionnaire (CMQ), and VIA Character Strengths (Youth Version). Descriptive statistics, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC), and Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) were utilized for data analysis. The findings revealed a significant direct causal effect of childhood maltreatment on social-emotional competence (SEC) and character strengths among in-school adolescents in Ibadan metropolis. The recommendations based on these results include promoting parental education to reduce childhood maltreatment and implementing character strengths building interventions in schools to enhance the development of social-emotional competence among adolescents.   Keywords: Childhood Maltreatment, Character Strengths, and Social Emotional Competence.