Abstract:
The study used a cross-sectional survey design and multiple linear regression to examine self-esteem and self-awareness as predictors of security consciousness among youths. Three hundred and two (302) undergraduates of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (164 males and 138 females) randomly sampled from Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Sociology, Political Science and Psychology departments, participated in the study. They were aged between 18years and 38years, with mean age of 28years. Three instruments (Self-esteem scale designed by Rosenberg, 1965, Self-awareness scale designed by Harill, 2004 and Security consciousness scale designed by the researcher) were used in the study. Out of the 24 preliminary items of security consciousness, 9 items survived and loaded on two factors: door safety factors and general safety factors. Reliability indexes of .79 for door factors and .69 for general safety respectively. Self-esteem was therefore shown to significantly predict security consciousness among youths β = .0140; self-awareness did not. Gender and age were observed not to have predictive power over the variables measured. It was consequently concluded that youths should not only be empowered, but also the right attitude that moderately boost their sense of self be inculcated to avoid them being unduly manipulated.
