IMPACT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Summary

 This study focused on the impact of sexual harassment on the academic performance of female students in Nigerian universities using University of Benin, Benin City. Four (4) research questions were raised for the study. The study adopted survey research design. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire; it was built around the research question by the researcher and validated by the researcher’s supervisor. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages, mean and standard deviation while the hypothesis was tested using Ordinary Least Square Method of regression analysis.

            The major findings of the study are as follows:

1.       the level of sexual harassment among female students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria is high.
2.       the causes of sexual harassment as perceived by students in higher institutions in Nigeria are: family history of conflict or violence, child hood history of sexual or emotional abuse, emotionally unsupportive environment, association with sexually aggressive and delinquent peers, and sexually provocative dressing among females
3.       the psychological consequences of sexual harassment on female students in higher institutions of learning include; sexual harassment or abuse causes victim to live with shame, leads to depression, can cause post-traumatic stress, can cause borderline personality disorder and suicidal ideation

Sexual harassment can lead to poor academic performance, can make a female student loose interest in learning, can make a student mentally imbalance to understand taught lessons, can inhibit their assimilation rate, and cam also lead to psychomotor and cognitive disorder which affects ones academic performance.