EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY AND NEGATIVE SELF-CONCEPT AS PREDICTORS OF BEST FRIEND CONFLICT AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN AWKA CITY, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study explored emotional instability and negative self-concept as predictors of best friend conflict among adolescents in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, using 112 Secondary School Students, selected through simple random sampling technique of 44 boys, 68 girls, age-range 13-17, mean-age 14.61 and SD 1.32. The instruments were Friendship Conflict and Betrayal Questionnaire, Emotional Instability Scale, and Negative Self-concept Scale. The study adopted correlational design, and Multiple Linear Regressions. Results showed overall model accounted for 32.7% of best friend conflict, R=.572, R2=.327, adjusted R2=.315, (F2, 109) =26.47, p<.001. Emotional instability indicated positive significant prediction of best friend conflict at (F2, 109), β= -81, t = 4.46, p<.001; while negative self-concept negatively predicted best friend conflict (F2, 109), β= -.89, t = -7.13, p<.01. Recommendations: Those involved in adolescents development should be proactive in reducing adolescents’ best friend conflict, emotional instability, and negative self-concept.