Enyelunekpo Roberts , Uchechi Ibekwe, Sunday Atunwa , Emmanuel Uye

Gender Differences and Self-Esteem as Predictors of Perceived Sexual Harassment among Undergraduates in Nigeria

Introduction

Gender differences and self-esteem as predictors of perceived sexual harassment among undergraduates in nigeria. Explore gender differences & self-esteem as predictors of perceived sexual harassment among Nigerian undergraduates. Study reveals females report higher harassment. Recommends proactive university policies.

Abstract

Sexual harassment has become a pervasive problem in many tertiary institutions worldwide which affects psychological, physical and academic well-being among undergraduates. This study investigated gender differences and self-esteem as predictors of perceived sexual harassment among undergraduates in Rivers State, Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted while purposive sampling technique was used to select three tertiary institutions in the State. Data were collected from 250 participants using validated questionnaires and analyzed using multiple regressions analysis and independent samples t-test. Two hypotheses were tested and accepted at p <.05 level of significance. The result revealed that gender differences and self-esteem jointly predicted perceived sexual harassment among study participants R2 = .274, F(2,248) = 46.633, p <.05. In addition, gender differences (β = .349, p <.05) and self-esteem (β = -.348, p <.05) independently predicted perceived sexual harassment among study participants. Finally, the result confirmed gender differences and perceived sexual harassment [t(247) =17.981, p <.05] such that female undergraduates reported higher perceived sexual harassment (M =38.83, SD=1.29) than their male counterparts (M = 30.94, SD= 4.94). The novelty of this finding is that it is the first time sexual harassment is investigated among undergraduates in these three tertiary institutions in Rivers State. The study recommended that university authority should be proactive in designing and implementing policy that will reduce sexual harassment in their institutions.

Review

This study addresses a highly relevant and critical issue: perceived sexual harassment among undergraduates in Nigeria, specifically examining the predictive roles of gender and self-esteem. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design with 250 participants from three tertiary institutions in Rivers State, the authors employ multiple regression and independent samples t-tests to analyze their data. The findings compellingly demonstrate that both gender and self-esteem are significant predictors of perceived sexual harassment, with their combined influence accounting for a substantial portion of the variance (R2 = .274). Notably, female undergraduates reported significantly higher levels of perceived sexual harassment compared to their male counterparts, and lower self-esteem was independently associated with increased perceptions of harassment. This research offers valuable insights into the dynamics of sexual harassment within the Nigerian academic context. While the study makes an important contribution to the literature, particularly given its specific regional focus, certain methodological aspects warrant consideration. The claim of "novelty" being the first investigation in "these three tertiary institutions" is specific but could be broadened to clarify its unique contribution within the wider body of research on sexual harassment in Nigerian universities. The use of purposive sampling, while practical, limits the generalizability of the findings beyond the selected institutions. Furthermore, the abstract lacks specific details regarding the "validated questionnaires" used for measuring perceived sexual harassment and self-esteem, which are crucial for assessing construct validity and replicability. A more detailed explanation of these measures in the full paper would strengthen the methodological rigor. Despite these points, the study's findings have clear and immediate practical implications. The robust evidence that gender and self-esteem predict perceived sexual harassment highlights critical areas for intervention. The recommendation for university authorities to design and implement proactive policies against sexual harassment is well-founded and imperative. Future research could expand upon this foundation by employing longitudinal designs to explore causal pathways, integrating qualitative methods to capture the nuanced lived experiences of harassment, and investigating other potential mediating or moderating factors. Understanding the specific nature of harassment reported, and the support mechanisms available, would further enhance the impact of this important work.

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