The Roles of Counselling Psychologists toward the Improvement of Intellectual Functioning of Secondary School Students

The paper examined the role of counselling psychologists towards the improvement of intellectual functioning of secondary school students. Academic underachievement both in internal and external examination conducted by West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) were seen as indications of low intellectual functioning. Also a situation where certificate holders are unable to defend such certificates in various spheres of human endeavour where such intellectual prowess are required, was also seen as indication of low intellectual functioning. The highlighted roles which counselling psychologists could play to improve intellectual functioning include: to counsel students on how to focus attention on the study-material when studying, apply stipulated principles of learning to guide the students, to adopt PQ4R method of reading which enhances recall, and application of memory improvement techniques to ensure long term retention of information. Some recommendations were made, among which was that all stakeholders in education should encourage increase in students reading culture. It was also recommended that the JSS and SSS levels of secondary education should have at least two counselling psychologists each. Participation in lumosity training and consumption of brain boosting food were also recommended. Key Words: Counselling psychologist, intellectual functioning, lumosity training, learning, rehearsal, brain boosting food

Self-concept, Test Anxiety and Achievement Motivation as-Predictors of Academic Achievement in Physics among Secondary School Students in Rivers State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to ascertain the extent self concept, test anxiety and achievement motivation jointly, and independently predict secondary school students academic achievement in Physics in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.  Population for the study comprised all the senior secondary class two (SSS 2) Physics students.  The sample for the study was made up of 254 SSS 2 Physics students which comprised 144 male and 110 female students drawn from four secondary schools through simple random sampling and stratified random sampling techniques.  The instrument for the study was Self-concept, Test Anxiety and Achievement Motivation as Predictors of Secondary School Students Academic Achievement Instrument (STAAMPSSAAI) and the reliability co-efficient were determined through Cronbach Alpha as 0.64, 0.75 and 0.62 respectively.  Two research questions were answered while two hypotheses were tested.  The results were that self-concept, test anxiety and achievement motivation jointly and independently significantly predicted secondary school students’ academic achievement in physics.  The predictions of test anxiety on students academic achievement in physics was the highest and negative.  Some recommendations were made among which were that teachers should help students to have positive self-concept and also help them to reduce test anxiety. Keywords:  Self-concept, test anxiety, achievement motivation, stress, eustress

Prevalence, Gender and Level of Schooling Differences in Secondary School Students Level of Shyness

This study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence, gender and level of schooling differences in secondary school students’ level of shyness in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.  Population of the study comprised all the senior secondary school class two (SSS II) and all the Junior Secondary school class two (JSS II) students in the Local Government Area.  Sample for the study comprised 400 students.  Stratified random sampling technique and simple random sampling techniques were used to draw four schools and the sample for the study based on gender and level of schooling.  The instrument used for the study was the Revised Check and Bus Shyness Scale (RCBS 1983).  Reliability of the instrument was determined by the authors through test-retest method and the co-efficient of correlation was 0.88.  Three research questions were answered in this study while three hypotheses were tested.  The statistical method of analysis adopted for the study were percentage, mean, standard deviation and T-test. The result showed that prevalence of shyness among secondary school students was 60%; 76% of the female students were found to be  shy, while 44% of male students were found to be shy), 64% of SSS students were shy, while 43% of the JSS students were found to be shy.  There was significant difference between shy and non-shy students,including male and female students’ level of shyness.  Significant difference was also found between JSS and SSS students’ extent of shyness.  Some of the recommendations made include: that parents should strive not to bring up their children in abusive homes and to encourage their children to attend social occasions such as wedding and birthday ceremonies. Keywords: Shyness, Prevalence, Gender, Level of schoolin

Parenting Styles as Correlates of Adolescents Drug Addiction among Senior Secondary School Students in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to find out the relationship between parenting styles and secondary students drug addiction among adolescents in secondary schools in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Rivers State Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions and similar number of null hypotheses. The study adopted a correlation research design. The population of the study consisted of all the 12,000 senior secondary students in thirteen public secondary schools in Obio-Akpor L.G.A. The study had a sample of 1200 students. A proportional stratified sampling technique was used to draw the sample size. Two instruments called Parenting Styles Questionnaire (PSQ) and Adolescent Drug Addiction Questionnaire (ADAQ) were used for the study. The instruments face and content validities were determined. The reliability coefficients of the two instruments were 0.93 for PSQ and 0.89 for ADAQ respectively. Correlation statistics by Pearson was used to answer the research questions, and test the null hypotheses. Result of the study among others is that authoritarian and authoritative parenting styles have a very low positive relationship with adolescents’ drug addiction. It was recommended among others that parents, counselors, teachers and all those involved in character formation should try and be more authoritative in their attitude towards children, especially the adolescents

Iron Dysregulation in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuronal dysfunction, and decreased memory and cognitive function. Iron is critical for neuronal activity, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, and energy homeostasis. Iron accumulation occurs in AD and results in neuronal dysfunction through activation of multifactorial mechanisms. Mitochondria generate energy and iron is a key co-factor required for: (1) ATP production by the electron transport chain, (2) heme protein biosynthesis and (3) iron-sulfur cluster formation. Disruptions in iron homeostasis result in mitochondrial dysfunction and energetic failure. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic iron-dependent form of cell death mediated by uncontrolled accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, is associated with AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. AD pathogenesis is complex with multiple diverse interacting players including Aβ-plaque formation, phosphorylated tau, and redox stress. Unfortunately, clinical trials in AD based on targeting these canonical hallmarks have been largely unsuccessful. Here, we review evidence linking iron dysregulation to AD and the potential for targeting ferroptosis as a therapeutic intervention for AD

Political Corruption and Poverty in Nigerian Democratic State : Any Grounds for Justification?

ABSTRACT There is no gainsaying the fact that the “moral” problems associated with corruption in Nigeria are the cause of poverty and hunger in the country. Political and economic inequality have become the order of the day as Nigerians struggle for survival and proper means of alleviation of these precarious situations. Proper understanding of the meaning of corruption and its moral implications are important in order to find a remedy to the problems that go with corruption. The demand for clarification of corruption and basis for its justification, “if any”, calls for a nationalist approach to harness the potentialities that abound in Nigeria

Physiologic Implications of Reactive Oxygen Species Production by Mitochondrial Complex I Reverse Electron Transport

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be either detrimental or beneficial depending on the amount, duration, and location of their production. Mitochondrial complex I is a component of the electron transport chain and transfers electrons from NADH to ubiquinone. Complex I is also a source of ROS production. Under certain thermodynamic conditions, electron transfer can reverse direction and reduce oxygen at complex I to generate ROS. Conditions that favor this reverse electron transport (RET) include highly reduced ubiquinone pools, high mitochondrial membrane potential, and accumulated metabolic substrates. Historically, complex I RET was associated with pathological conditions, causing oxidative stress. However, recent evidence suggests that ROS generation by complex I RET contributes to signaling events in cells and organisms. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that the impact of complex I RET, either beneficial or detrimental, can be determined by the timing and quantity of ROS production. In this article we review the role of site-specific ROS production at complex I in the contexts of pathology and physiologic signaling

Iron Dysregulation in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuronal dysfunction, and decreased memory and cognitive function. Iron is critical for neuronal activity, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, and energy homeostasis. Iron accumulation occurs in AD and results in neuronal dysfunction through activation of multifactorial mechanisms. Mitochondria generate energy and iron is a key co-factor required for: (1) ATP production by the electron transport chain, (2) heme protein biosynthesis and (3) iron-sulfur cluster formation. Disruptions in iron homeostasis result in mitochondrial dysfunction and energetic failure. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic iron-dependent form of cell death mediated by uncontrolled accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, is associated with AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. AD pathogenesis is complex with multiple diverse interacting players including Aβ-plaque formation, phosphorylated tau, and redox stress. Unfortunately, clinical trials in AD based on targeting these canonical hallmarks have been largely unsuccessful. Here, we review evidence linking iron dysregulation to AD and the potential for targeting ferroptosis as a therapeutic intervention for AD

Father-Child Attachment Styles, Social and Emotional Loneliness as Predictors of Basic Science and Technology Subject Academic Achievement in Rivers State Nigeria

Father-child attachment styles, social and emotional loneliness as predicting academic achievement in basic science and technology subject in Rivers State was investigated. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The correlational design was used with a sample of 513 senior secondary one (SS1) students. The sample was drawn using Taro Yemen formula, and the multistage sampling technique was used to draw nine secondary schools from the three senatorial districts of Rivers State. Instruments used for data collection were father-child relationship inventory (FCRI), social and emotional behaviour towards relationship network (SEBTREN). The instruments had a Cronbach Alpha of 0.78 for (FCRI) and 0.72 for (SEBTREN). Data was analyzed using multiple regression method to answer research questions and hypothesis. Findings revealed that father-child attachment styles jointly and independently predicted studentsrsquo academic achievement. Social and emotional loneliness had a moderate relationship jointly and independently with academic achievement. Recommendations were made accordingly. nbs