Abstract

 The study investigated the extent personality and marital stability of parents predicts academic performance ofjunior secondary school students in AkwaIbom state. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. A sample of 778 respondents drawn from a population of 15568 respondents which comprised of 7784 junior secondary school students and 7784 parents in AkwaIbom state was used for the study. The study was drawn using two stage sampling technique. Two instruments were used for the study. They included Personality and marital stability Factor Questionnaire (PMSFQ) and Students Performance Questionnaire (SPQ). The instruments were validated by three experts. They included one each in Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling and Educational Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the instruments (PMSFQ and SPQ) were determined using Cronbach alpha statistic which yielded coefficients of 0.83 and 0.76respectively which showed that they were high and reliable enough for data collection. Three well- briefed research assistants helped the researcher in data collection. Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient was used to answer the 10 research questions that guided the study while linear regression analysis was used to test the 10 hypotheses that guided the study at 0.05 alpha level. The instrument from 771 students that responded well and returned their instruments were used for the analysis. The results showed among others that Personality variables (openness to experience, Conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness) of parents significantly to a moderate positive extent predicted the academic performance of junior secondary school students. It also revealed that Parental marital stability skills significantly to a high positive extent predicted academic performance ofjunior secondary school students Based on these findings it is recommended that teachers should identify students that have personality challenges and as well refer them to school counsellors for proper counselling on effective ways to improve on their personality traits. Teachers should ensure that all students are carried along during classroom instructions irrespective of their differences in personality traits and parental background. Government should ensure that qualified and adequate number of counsellors are employed for every school to handles students’ personality challenges. Government and school authorities should ensure regular seminars for school counsellors on effective ways of handling students with personality challenges or those that have poor academic performance due to parental marital problems. School authorities should carve out time to educate parents during parents meeting, on the need to exhibit positive personality traits at home.