SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIOECONOMIC WELLBEING ON SOMATIZATION SYMPTOMATOLOGY AMONG URBAN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ENUGU STATE.

Abstract

Somatization symptomatology is one of the psychopathological conditions which could prevent a student from functioning very well in the school. Somatization symptomatology is a combined features or signs of somatization which   can be used as an aid in the diagnosis of somatization disorder. Somatization is usually in the functional state while somatization disorder is the state of having the disease; both of them are harmful and should be avoided. The goal of this study is to ascertain if self-esteem, socio –economic wellbeing and gender will associate with somatization symptomatology among urban secondary school student in Enugu. A total of 300 participants were employed for the study. The participants were selected through convenient sampling method. The participant’s ages showed that 176 (59%) were younger and 124 (41%) were older. Besides, 168 (56%) were females and 132 (44%) were males while 112 (37%) were in junior class and 188 (63%) were in senior class.  The instruments employed in this study were Index of self-esteem, Interviewer Rated Multivariate Assessment of Socio-economic Well-being and Clinical Symptoms Inventory. The design for the study was cross sectional survey design and hierarchical multiple regression was used for data analysis. The findings of the study showed that self-esteem significantly and positively associated with somatization symptomatology, beta = .27, t = 4.83, p = .00. The second hypothesis which states that  socio-economic wellbeing will significantly and positively associate with somatization symptomatology was not upheld; the result indicated that socio-economic wellbeing did not significantly associate with somatization symptomatology, beta = -.04, t = -.60, p = .55. The third hypothesis which states that gender will significantly associate with somatization symptomatology was upheld; the result indicated that gender significantly and positively associated with somatization symptomatology, as female students in Enugu Urban have more somatization symptomatology  than their male counterparts (Female—Mean = 95.3929; SD = 36. 68250; Male--- Mean = 86.0152; SD = 34.41329). It is recommended that Parents and teachers should be particularly mindful of the way they address students at home and in the school. This study suggest that the government should engage professional services of clinical psychologists who will help to introduce and engage and build healthy self esteem and assertiveness on the students and as well through in-service training work with the teachers on developing appropriate problem solving skills in the formation of students.