Relationship Between Reward-Seeking Behaviour, Lack of Fatherly Love, and Adjustment among Undergraduate Students

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between reward-seeking behaviour, lack of fatherly love, and adjustment among undergraduate students. The study adopted a correlational research design. Participants were undergraduate students selected from universities and a college of education in Nigeria using purposive and availability sampling techniques. Data were collected using measures of adjustment, lack of fatherly presence/love, and reward-seeking behaviour. The data were analysed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences . The findings showed that reward-seeking behaviour had a significant positive relationship with adjustment among undergraduate students, r = .393, p < .01. This indicates that students who reported higher reward-seeking behaviour also tended to report better adjustment. Therefore, the first hypothesis was supported. However, lack of fatherly love did not have a significant relationship with adjustment, r = −.042, p = .684. Thus, the second hypothesis was not supported. The findings suggest that reward-seeking behaviour may be associated with how undergraduate students adjust to university life, while lack of fatherly love may not have a direct relationship with adjustment in this sample. The study recommends that university counsellors and psychologists should pay attention to students' motivational patterns and provide appropriate support for students experiencing adjustment difficulties.

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