SELF-ESTEEM, COUNSELLING PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCY ON PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AMONG PRESERVICE COUNSELLORS IN ADEYEMI FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, ONDO

Abstract

Counselling is a recognized helping profession, such that any student studying counselling is expected to be altruistic. This, in most cases, is not correct as most students opt for counselling programmes circumstantially and lack the helping attitude required for the profession. This study examined the influence of self-esteem, counselling practicum experience and competence on the prosocial behaviour of preservice counsellors in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo. Using simple random sampling, two hundred students were randomly selected from all 2020/2021 part four Guidance and Counselling students in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling as participants. Four valid and standardized instruments, the Counselling Practicum Competence Scale, ( r = 0.71); Counseling Practicum Experience Scale,( r = 0.73);  Rosenberg Self-esteem scale,( r = 0.79); Prosocial Tendencies Measure,(r = 0.74) were used for data collection from the participants. Three research questions were raised. Data were analysed using the Pearson Moment Product Correlation and Multiple regression statistics. The result indicates that there was a positive relationship between self-esteem, counselling practicum experience, competency and prosocial behaviour. Self-esteem, counselling practicum experience, and competency accounted for 35.1% of the criterion measure with self-esteem being the most potent. Based on the findings, values and practices that encourage the development of self-esteem, counselling practicum experience and competence should be encouraged.