Boarding system and the attitudes of secondary school students: the mediation of personality development
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Despite the availability of empirical literatures on boarding systems in Nigeria, very few of the studies employed social identity and Identity process theories. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, none employed the four principles of identity; continuity, distinctiveness, self-esteem and efficacy, which identity process theory expects to, remain stable. This study sought to fill these gaps given the relevance of the theories to peer interaction. Flowing from the social identity and the identity process theories, the study examined the influence of boarding systems on personality development of students and the extent to which personality development mediates the relationship between boarding routines and the attitudes of boarding students in the Southwest, Nigeria. The cross-sectional survey design was employed on 310 secondary school students selected through stratified sampling consisting of 167 male and 143 female students with 127 of them aged between 7 and 15 years while 183 were between 16 and 24 years, and the data were analysed using path diagram technique of structural equation modelling. The results indicate that peer interaction, independence and decision making have positive statistically significant influences on personality development of students. Furthermore, the results indicate that peer interaction, independence, decision making and separation from parental care have positive statistically significant influences on the attitudes of boarding students. The study makes significant contributions to the identity process and social identity theories. The practical implication is the need for the authorities concerned with secondary school management to give priority to the office of the guidance councillor by all secondary schools.
Source: Discover Education
Authors: Esther Inegbedion, Henry Inegbedion
Institutions: National Eye Centre, Bowen University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,390
OpenAlex ID: W7213294759