AI COUNSELLING TECHNIQUE: ENHANCING STRESS MANAGEMENT AMONG ENGINEERING STUDENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITY

Abstract

Engineering studies can negatively impact the academic performance and mental health of those with physical disabilities. The impact of Artificial intelligence (AI) counselling technique on stress management of engineering students with physical disability was explored. There’s a dearth of research relating to AI counselling technique and students with physical disabilities. The pretest posttest control group quasi-experimental research design was adopted. Six hypotheses guided the study. Participants were 98 physically challenged engineering students selected across ten institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. Experimental groups and the Control group were all pretested using self-designed Perceived Stress Level Scale (PSLS). The experimental group was treated with AI-enhanced counselling for 5 weeks while the control group was exposed to conventional counselling. Then subjected to PSLS. Percentage, mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used. Findings were a significant main effect of AI counseling technique on stress management (F-ratio _{(1, 97)} = 7.235), a significant main effect of level of study on stress management (F-ratio _{(2, 98)} = 4.409). A significant interaction effect of level of student and AI counseling technique on the stress management (F-ratio _{(2, 96)}=5.352) no significant interaction effect of gender, level of study and AI counseling technique was found (F-ratio _{(3, 95)} =1.274). Incorporating AI counseling technique for managing stress was recommended.

Keywords: AI counseling, stress management, engineering students, physical disability.

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