Sexual Self -Efficacy, Sexual Risk-Cognition and Social Intelligence as Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviours among Adolescents in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between personal factors (sexual self-efficacy, sexual risk-cognition, social intelligence) and risky  sexual behaviours among in school adolescents in Enugu State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to draw 400 students (male=184; female=216) with age range of 15–19 years (x̄=17.01; SD=2.66) from the target population. Four standardized self- report questionnaires were used for data collection. The results showed that there was no significant difference in risky sexual behaviour  of male and female participants. There was significant difference in involvement in risky sexual behaviours between students in rural and  urban secondary schools (Crit-t 1.002, Cal.t 1.987, df=398, P<0.05). There was negative linear relationship between the personal factors  (sexual selfefficacy, sexual risk-cognition and social Intelligence) and risky sexual behaviour. Further, of the three independent variables,  social intelligence (α = .456, t= 7.069, P<0.01) was most potent protective factor against risky behaviours followed by sexual self-efficacy (α  =.866, t = 13.442, P<0.01). Sexual risk-cognition did not effectively predict risky sexual behaviours. Constructs considered in the study  accounted for 10.2 % of the variance in adolescents’ risky sexual behaviours. It was recommended that counselling psychologists should  enhance the sexual selfefficacy, sexual risk- cognition and social intelligence of in-school adolescents since these factors were found to  have the likelihood of protecting them against risky sexual behaviours.