PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITALAND ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between psychological capital and academic engagement among secondary school students in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. The study's population was 1,590 students from private and public schools in the study area, with a sample size of 159 students selected using stratified random sampling technique. The Psychological Capital and Academic Engagement Questionnaire was used to collect the required data for the study. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistics was used to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that there was a correlation between hope and academic involvement in secondary school students. Additionally, there was a correlation between optimism and academic engagement in secondary school students. The study concluded that the existence of psychological capital, which includes self-confidence, aspiration, positive outlook, and ability to bounce back, has a significant impact on enhancing the level of academic engagement among adolescents. The study recommended, among others, that educational psychologists, counsellors and educators in secondary schools should consider implementing programmes and strategies that focus on building and strengthening students' self-efficacy beliefs.