Prevalence of Compulsive Texting Behaviour among Student in Tertiary Institutions in Lagos State: Counselling Implications

The rise of social media has enhanced communication but also increased the risk of compulsive texting, particularly among young adults. This study examined the prevalence of compulsive texting behaviours among students in tertiary institutions in Lagos State and explored its counselling implications. A descriptive survey design was adopted with three research questions and two hypotheses. The population comprised students from tertiary institutions in Lagos State, while a random sample of 205 students from four institutions participated. Data were collected using a validated 30-item instrument titled: “Prevalence and Text Messaging Addiction Scale” (PTMAS), with a reliability coefficient of 0.90. Data were analysed using percentages, t-test, and ANOVA. The first hypothesis was rejected, and the second was not rejected. Findings revealed a very high prevalence of compulsive texting among more than three-quarters of respondents. Female students exhibited higher levels of compulsive texting than males, while age had no significant influence. The study recommends among others that tertiary institutions engage professional counsellors to raise awareness about the risks of compulsive texting and design counselling interventions to help students regulate their texting behaviour for better academic and psychological wellbeing.