GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF NIGERIAN SINGLE PARENT IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMEN AREA, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the gender differences in the psychosocial adjustment of Nigerian single parent in Calabar South Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for the study, Taro Yamane sampling formula was utilized for selecting sample of 250 respondents, 127 were married, 58 were single and 65 were divorced/separated from a population of 662 teachers from the schools. A well validated 15 items questionnaire was designed using four-point Likert Scale and was administered for data collection. Three research questions were raised and converted to three statement of null hypotheses and were formulated and tested at .05 level of significance. T-test analysis was the statistics used to test the null hypotheses. The results findings of the study revealed that there is a significant difference in social adjustment levels, psychosocial adjustment and parental stress between male and female in Calabar south Local Government Area of Cross River State. It was recommended that Government should implement gender-specific psychosocial support programs to address the unique adjustment challenges faced by males and females. There should be support for single parents, providing tailored support services for single parents to enhance their psychosocial adjustment, focusing on stress management and coping strategies. Finally, there should be an Introduction stress reduction and management workshops for parents, emphasizing the impact of stress on psychosocial adjustment and providing practical tools for stress alleviation.