Exploring the Psychological Impact of Social Exclusion and Isolation Among Upper Basic Students in Kwara State

Abstract

This study investigated the psychological impact of social exclusion and isolation among upper basic students in Kwara State, adopting a descriptive survey research design. The population for this study comprised all upper basic students in Kwara State. There are 21,780 upper basic students in Kwara State (Kwara State Ministry of Education 2023). The target population comprised all upper basic students in public schools in Kwara State. There are 13, 673 students in public upper basic schools in Kwara State (Kwara State Ministry of Education 2023). Simple random sampling technique was used to select 271 upper basic school students as respondents of the study. A researcher-designed questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on Psychological Impact of Social Exclusion and Isolation (QPISEI)” was used to collect data. The findings of the study revealed that the psychological impact of social exclusion and isolation among upper basic students in Kwara State include anxiety, loneliness, rejection feeling, concentration issues, Feeling disconnected, unhappiness mood, sadness, and low self-esteem. The study found no significant gender difference on the psychological impact of social exclusion and isolation among upper basic students in Kwara State. The study recommended that Kwara State government should establish accessible and confidential psychological support services within schools to assist students dealing with the emotional repercussions of social exclusion. Trained counselors or mental health professionals can offer guidance, coping strategies, and a safe space for students to address their feelings of loneliness, rejection, and diminished self-esteem.