Influence of Childhood Abuse on the Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students in Plateau State, Nigeria

This study examined the influence of childhood abuse on the academic achievement of secondary school students in Plateau State, Nigeria: its implications for guidance. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and a sample of 423 students was drawn from the study population using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of four items per research question. The data analysis involved descriptive statistics of mean, frequency counts and standard deviation, while inferential statistics of t-test and ANOVA were used at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that childhood abuse significantly influences academic achievement, with emotional abuse and neglect being the most prevalent and damaging forms. Results also indicated that guidance strategies particularly counselling services, positively impact the academic performance of abused students. The study concluded that effective guidance and counselling can serve as a protective factor against the adverse effects of abuse. Recommendations were made that secondary schools in Plateau State should strengthen guidance and counselling services to provide continuous psychological support to students who have experienced abuse, and that the government should enforce child protection laws and create reporting structures within schools to address cases of abuse promptly among others.