Abstract

This study investigated stress, resilience and propensity to risky behaviour among out-of-school adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria. The cross-sectional survey design was used among 200 adolescents using the purposive sampling technique; Three hypotheses were tested and data analysed using the descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypothesis one showed that, stress significantly predicted propensity to risky behaviour among out-of-school adolescents in Lagos State [f (1,198) = 4.038; p <.046, R =.141 and R²=.020]. Hypothesis two revealed that, resilience significantly predicted propensity to risky behaviour among out-of-school adolescents in Lagos State [f (1,198) = 43.189; p <.000, R =.423 and R²=.179]. Further, stress and resilience jointly predicted propensity to risky behaviour among out-of-school adolescents in Lagos State [f (2,197) = 22.343; p <.000, R=.430 and R²=.185]. However, governments of all sector have a legal responsibility to arrange the establishment of educational counselling centres in their areas. It is also recommended that, there is an urgent need for psychologist, therapists and trained mental health counsellors in elementary and higher education for the sake students and teachers themselves. It showed that psychological counselling can significantly reduce stress levels and propensity to risky behaviours in school adolescents.

Key words: Adolescence; Nigeria; resilience; risky behaviour; stress