Relationship between Social Cognition, Social Adjustment and Pro-Social Behaviour among Undergraduates in Federal Universities in South-East Nigeria

Aims: The thrust of this study was to determine the relationship between social cognition, social adjustment and prosocial behaviour among undergraduates in federal universities in South-east. Nigeria.

Study Design: The study adopted the correlational survey design.

Place and Duration of Study: Undergraduates in federal universities in South-east, Nigeria (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Federal University of Technology, Owerri FUTO, Federal University Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State and Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike), between January 2023 and April 2023.

Methodology: The sample for the study comprised of 1500 undergraduates drawn from two federal universities (University of Nigeria = 780, Nnamdi Azikiwe university = 720). The instruments for data collection were the social cognition questionnaire, social adjustment scale and pro-social behaviour scale. The instruments were validated and its reliability determined using Cronbach alpha reliability statistics (r = 0.786, r = 0.748 & r = 0.631). Data collected was analysed using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and t-test for correlation analysis. The research questions were answered using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, while hypotheses were tested using the t-test for correlation analysis.

Results: The findings of the study revealed a high positive relationship between social cognition and prosocial behaviour among undergraduates in federal universities in South-east, and a very high positive relationship between social adjustment and prosocial behaviour among undergraduates in federal universities in South-east. The findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between social cognition and prosocial behaviour among undergraduates in federal universities in South-east. Also the findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between social adjustment and prosocial behaviour among undergraduates in federal universities in South-east, Nigeria.

Conclusion: Professional psychologist in collaboration with universities should develop psychological programmes tailored towards behaviours and undergraduates engaging in them.