EFFICACY OF SELF-ESTEEM TRAINING ON ATTITUDE TOWARDS CURBING INDECENT DRESSING AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS OF OKE-OGUN POLYTECHNIC, OYO STATE

Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of self-esteem training on attitude towards curbing indecent dressing among female students of Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Oyo State. A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group design was adopted. The population comprised 4,113 female students, from which 120 participants were selected using convenience sampling based on availability and willingness to participate. Participants were assigned to experimental and control groups of 60 each. Data were collected using a researcher-designed 15-item Attitude towards Curbing Indecent Dressing Questionnaire (ATCIDQ), with a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.89. The experimental group received eight-week self-esteem training, whereas the control group continued with regular school and counselling activities. Mean, standard deviation, independent-samples t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used for data analysis at the 0.05 level of significance. The pre-test result showed no significant difference between the experimental group (M = 45.38) and control group (M = 45.71), t(118) = -0.35, p = .730 > .05. At post-test, the experimental group recorded a higher mean score (M = 56.82) than the control group (M = 46.93), t(118) = 11.95, p < .001. ANCOVA also showed a significant group effect, F(1, 117) = 142.772, p < .001. The study concluded that self-esteem training was associated with improved attitude towards curbing indecent dressing among female students. Based on the results, it was recommended that guidance counsellors should incorporate self-esteem training into counselling programmes for female students to improve their attitudes towards curbing indecent dressing.