ABSTRACT
This study investigated the family structure as correlate of in-school adolescent delinquent behaviour in secondary schools in River State, Nigeria. The study was guided by six research objectives, as six research questions were posed for the study and five null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted the Correlation Research Design. The population of the study was 17,345 Senior Secondary School II in-school adolescents which comprised 10,543 male in-school adolescents and 6802 female in-school adolescents across 187 senior secondary schools from the Twenty Three (23) Local Government Areas (L.G.As) of the three Education Zones that made up River State. The sample of the study was 400 respondents which comprised 187 Male adolescents and 213 female adolescents from 40 Senior Secondary Schools across Six (6) Local Government Areas (L.G.As) selected for the study. The Local Government Areas (L.G.As) were selected using the simple random sampling technique, as the schools and students were selected using the stratified random sampling techniques and simple random sampling techniques. Two instruments which were the “Family Structure Questionnaire”(FSQ) and Adolescent Delinquent Behaviour Questionnaire”(ADBQ) were developed by the researcher for data collection. The two instruments were validated by three experts which comprised one from the Department of Agricultural Science/Home Science Education, one from Department of Educational Psychology and one from the department of Science Education (Educational Measurement and Evaluation). The internal consistency of the instruments were 0.83 and 0.78 respectively for the FSQ and ADBQ while the stability of the instruments were 0.75 and 0.86 for the FSQ and ADBQ respectively. The data for the study was collected through the administration of 400 Copies of the “Family Structure Questionnaire”(FSQ) and Adolescent Delinquent Behaviour Questionnaire”(ADBQ). The research questions were answered using frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and the Pvalue of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) was used to test the 5 null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that there is a significant high positive correlation between the nuclear family structure and adolescent delinquent behaviours, as there is a significant high positive correlation between the extended family structure and adolescent delinquent behaviours, as significant moderate positive correlation exists between the single parent family structure and adolescent delinquent behaviours and significant moderate positive correlation between the foster family structure and adolescent delinquent behaviours. Lastly, there is a significant moderate positive correlation between the polygamous family structure and adolescent delinquent behaviours. Based on the findings of the study, the study recommended that young couples and youths who are not married yet should be encouraged to adopt the nuclear family structure since it helps to prevent the adolescent from engaging in adolescent delinquent behaviour. Parents from extended family structure should also try as much as possible to have a close parental monitoring in other to prevent the youths from engaging in adolescent delinquent behaviour. Parents from foster family structure should ensure that the adopted adolescents be given adequate care attention that will discourage them from engaging in adolescent delinquent behaviour.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
List of Figures x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 11
1.3 Purpose of the Study 13
1.4 Research Questions 13
1.5 Hypotheses 14
1.6
Significance of the Study
15
1.7 Scope of the Study 17
CHAPTER
2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1
Conceptual
Framework 18
2.1.1
Concept of adolescence 18
2.1.2
Concept of adolescent delinquent behaviours 21
2.1.3
Concept of family 23
2.1.4
Concept of family
structures and adolescent behaviors 24
2.1.5
Concept of family
structural instability and adolescent behaviours 32
2.1.6
Concept of socio-economic
status of the family 33
2.1.7
Concept of parenting
styles and adolescent behaviours 35
2.1.8
Parental attitudes 40
2.1.9
Home environment and
adolescent behaviour 42
2.1.10 Parental
educational background and adolescent behaviour 46
2.2
Theoretical
Framework 46
2.2.1
Psychoanalytic Theory By
Freud, Erikson and Vvgostsky(1973) 46
2.2.2
Freud
Psychosexual Theory by Freud(1935) 47
2.2.3
Erikson`s
Psychosocial Theory by Erikson (1978) 47
2.2.4
Ecological
systems theory by bronfenbrenner (1987) 49
2.2.5
Applied
Behaviour Analysis by Cooper, Heron and Heward(2007) 52
2.2.6
Social Learning by
Bandura(1977) 52
2.2.7
Functionalism theory by
spencer, Durkeim, Parsons and Rosbert Merton(1988) 54
2.3 Review of Empirical studies 59
2.4 Summary of Literature Review 65
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS
3.1 Design of the Study 68
3.2 Area of the Study 69
3.3 Population of the Study 70
3.4 Sample and Sampling
Techniques 70
3.5 Instrument for Data
Collection 72
3.6 Validation of the
Instrument 73
3.7 Reliability of the
Instrument 74
3.8 Method of Data Collection 74
3.9
Method of Data Analysis 75
CHAPTER 4:
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
77
4.1 Summary of Major Findings 88
4.2 Discussions
of Findings 88
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 94
5.2 Conclusions 96
5.3 Recommendations 97
5.4 Educational Implications to the Study 98
5.5 Limitations of the Study 99
5.6 Suggestions for further Study. 100
REFERENCES
APPENDIXES
LIST
OF TABLES
|
Table
4.1:
|
The
frequencies and percentages of the various family structures the
adolescents belongs to
|
77
|
|
Table
4.2:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient showing the extent of correlation between the nuclear family
structure and adolescent delinquent behaviour in Rivers State
|
78
|
|
Table 4.3:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation
Coefficient showing the extent of
correlation between the extended family structure and adolescent
delinquent behaviour in Rivers State
|
79
|
|
Table 4.4:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation
Coefficient showing the extent of
correlation between the Single family structure and adolescent
delinquent behaviour in Rivers State
|
80
|
|
Table 4.5:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient showing the extent of correlation between the foster family
structure and adolescent delinquent behaviour in Rivers State
|
81
|
|
Table 4.6:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation
Coefficient showing the extent of correlation
between the polygamous family structure and adolescent delinquent behaviour
in Rivers State
|
82
|
|
Table
4.7:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation
Coefficient showing the significant correlation between the nuclear family
structure and adolescent delinquent behaviour in Rivers State
|
83
|
|
Table
4.8:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation
Coefficient showing the significant correlation between the extended family
structure and adolescent delinquent behaviour in Rivers Stat
|
84
|
|
Table
4.9:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient showing the significant
correlation between the single parent family structure and adolescent
delinquent behaviour in Rivers State
|
85
|
|
Table
4.10:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient showing the significant
correlation between the foster family structure and adolescent delinquent
behaviour in Rivers State
|
86
|
|
Table
4.11:
|
The
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient showing the significant
correlation between the polygamous family structure and adolescent delinquent
behaviour in Rivers State
|
87
|
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
The family is an
institution that is saddled with the responsibility of raising individual in
the society for the utmost development of the society. The family thus is an
important social element in the society whose rapid socio-economic development
will always be anchored on a sound and well mentally developed individual. For
an individual to be mentally,
emotional and physically sound to significantly contribute to his or her
society for rapid socio economic development,
that individual must have evolved through the different phases of human development spanning through childhood
to adolescence hood and finally to adulthood. However, one of the most
important stages of these different phases of human development is the adolescent stage of human
development which is the period an individual takes action that make or mar
his/her life.
The adolescent stage of human development has its own
unique features/ characteristics and challenges which
every individual must go through
before getting to the adulthood. Some these unique features of the individuals
and challenges at this stages of human development if not properly guided by
the parent may lead to the individual getting involved in different social
vices. Thus, the extent to which the individual exhibit the characteristics of
the adolescent and also cope with its
peculiar challenges depends on the family structure patterns exhibited at each individual homes. The peculiar challenges associated
with adolescent during the transformation stages may lead the adolescents to
get involved in delinquent behaviors if not properly handled.
Adolescence typically describes the years between ages 13 and 19 and can be
considered the transitional stage from childhood to
adulthood (Ederson,2004). However, the physical and psychological changes
that occur in adolescence can start earlier, during the pre-teen or
"tween" years (ages 9 through 12). Adolescence can also be
a time of both disorientation and discovery. It is a more challenging
period in the life of a child and the family, especially the parents.
This transitional period can bring up issues of independence and self-identity. Many
adolescents and their peers face tough choices regarding schoolwork, sexuality, drugs, alcohol,
and social life.
Peer groups, romantic interests, and appearance tend to naturally increase in
importance for some time during a teen's journey toward adulthood (Ederson).
The
adolescent is usually confronted with the challenge of growing up within a set
down codes of conduct – normally based on moral values – which may constantly
clash with emerging desires for exploration. Evan and Broda (2005) observed
that the innate characteristics of the adolescent invokes a desire for new
things, hence there is a conflict between societal/family moral values and the
adolescent’s exploratory aims. Because of the strong desire for exploration and
independence which characterize this stage of human development, the adolescent
is prone to the exhibition of different behavioural problems. While this stage
is significant in the life of a child, it is also significant to note that
certain variables such as the family structure in which a child is born and
grows, the nature of the home and the internal and external environmental
factors around the home influence the child’s developmental processes.
The
discourse on family and child behaviour
attracts great attention when it relates to adolescents. This is because
adolescents are a sensitive group of people requiring careful upbringing.
Adolescence is a stage in human development that is characterized by daunting
challenges both for the adolescent and the older family members, especially
parents or caregivers. It is the age of exploration. As adolescents are built into doing new
things within their environment, they try to experiment almost everything at
their disposal but require informed monitoring to keep them safe from harmful
practices. Simone and Bert-Koops (2011)
observed that
achieving autonomy is one of the key normative psychosocial developmental
issues of adolescence, and all perspectives on the development of autonomy emphasize
the problematic outcomes that may follow from a lack of appropriate support for autonomy. Adolescent behaviour is usually a major
concern to parents. Experimental and risk-taking behavior are part of identity and
emotional development during adolescence (Kohnstamm &Kleine, 2009).
Critical aspects of adolescent
behaviours are experimentations with romantic and sexual relations, juvenile delinquency, truancy, school
absenteeism, bullying, substance/drug abuse, cultism and internet crimes. For instance, whether or not an adolescent drinks and to
what degree he or she drinks may be influenced by a complex array of factors
including personal characteristics, family characteristics and interactions,
the influence of peers, experience in school, religious attendance and beliefs,
perceptions of the benefits and risks of alcohol consumption, and participation
in other risky behaviors. While family is an essential component of the social
context that shapes an adolescents’ behavior, extra-familial relationships that
youth establish with other adults and with peers also have a significant
influence on the likelihood of engaging in behaviors that are pro-social or
carry some risk to overall well-being (Bearman and Brueckner, 2001; Ryan,
2000).
Poor management of the adolescent in school or the home at the
adolescents stage will expose them to delinquent behaviors which is often
associated with that stage of human development(Anda, Catalina, Oliver, Ciocani
& Enach, 2014). The term delinquency refers to
either something that is late in being done, such as making a late credit card
payment, or to improper or criminal behavior. In a legal context, delinquency
is most often used in reference to the disorderly or illegal actions engaged in
by a youth. Delinquency is criminal behavior, or acts that do not conform to
the moral or legal standards of society, carried out by a minor.
According to Younan, Tuvblad, Li, wu,
Lurmann and Franklin (2016) adolescent delinquent behavior are activities which
the adolescent engage in that have adverse effects on the overall development
of the wellbeing of the youths or that might prevent them from future successes
or developments. This behaviors can cause immediate physical injury(Fighting)
as well as behavior with cumulative negative effects(substance use). Some of
the most common delinquent behaviors for adolescents include substance
use(cigarettes, alcohol, drugs); sexual behaviors (early sexual debut, sex with
multiple partners, unprotected sex, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted
diseases); Absentism; aggression and violence; and risky driving. These
adolescent risky behaviors can affect the youth by disrupting their normal
development or preventing them from participating in the typical experience for
their age group.
Over the years in Nigeria the rate of adolescents involvement in adolescent delinquent behavior
such as truancy, smoking, drug abuses, risky sexual behaviors and excessive alcoholism is increasing at an
alarming rate, as more adolescents are now involved in these activities . Today
the rate of alcohol intake, truancy, holigalism e.t.c by the adolescent in Nigerian secondary
schools with special case of River state has increased tremendously, this was
evident as Chukwu (2019) reported that
alcoholism and truancy has its
onset during adolescence for many individuals and tends to
increase and reach its peak between late
adolescence and young adulthood. Also
the rate at which the young
adolescent involve in smoking of ciggarate and use of marijuana has increased
tremendously, as the adolescent are not mindful of the damaging health consequences
of smoking and drug abuses. On the bases of these, Chukwu reported that
currently 53% of the high school students currently smokes. In a similar vein the rate at which the
adolescents in Nigeria with special case of River state get involved in
delinquent behavior is increasing at an alarming rate, as these delinquent behavior has led to serious
waywardness, health damage and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases. To
these extent, Okorodudu (2011) and Onyehalu (2003) in separate studies reported
that delinquent seems to peak during the adolescent stage as a result of
curiosity of the adolescent to be at par with contemporary behavior of their
peer.
The alarming rate at which the adolescent involve
in delinquent behaviors in Rivers State could be
attributed to its relationship with the
parent-child relationship patterns,
adolescents home environment and family structures. To this
extent Otuadah, (2016) found out that environmental factors such peer groups and family background
significantly correlates adolescent involvement in delinquent behaviors,
as Younan Tuvblad, Li, Wu,
Lurmann and Franklin, (2016) also
revealed that deviant peer and harsh parenting significantly correlates adolescent delinquent
behaviors. Since these variables such as
peer groups, family background, harsh parenting have been studied in relation
to adolescent risky behaviors and the alarming rate of adolescent involvement
in delinquent behaviors still persist, it therefore become necessary to
investigate the extent of relationship that exists between the family structure and in-school the adolescent
delinquent behavior in secondary schools.
The home is the habitation of
members of the family. It is characterized by various family variables such as
the family structure, educational attainment of the inhabitants, parent-child
interactions, social and economic status of members. Children grow up in many
different home backgrounds, and for adolescents, the nature of the family in
which they live is usually the ‘normal family’ until they begin to mix up with
the larger society. It is important to understand the many structures of the family
and to realize that different families may have quite different issues, needs,
strengths and values which act as correlates of adolescent behaviours.
Family structures affects a child’s upbringing, and consequently
influence negative and positive behaviours among adolescents who are caught
between youthful exuberance and moral obligations to family and society. The
definition of family structure can be peculiar to particular societies in which
a family is located. For example, the types of family available in countries of
the western hemisphere may differ from those in Africa. However, family
structure can summarily be defined as the composition, nature or arrangement of
the members that make up a family. Greg and Thompson (2004) defined family
structure as the combination of relatives that comprise a family in a
home. Classification on this variable considers the presence or absence of:
legally married spouses or common law partners; children; and, in the case of
economic families, other relatives. This definition is essential and
strategically relevant to the present study in that, it takes into cognizance,
the classification of family structures which are peculiar to a typical African
and in particular, Nigerian society.
Though a lot of classifications of
family structures exist such as nuclear families, extended families,
single-parent families,
reconstituted families and
childless families, polygamy,
transnational families, migrant families, foster families, co-custody families,
bi-racial or multi-racial families and adoptive families (York, 2005; Ikuku,
2007; Barron and Tipa, 2004). This study adopted five typical families that are
quite peculiar or common to Nigeria, and River State in particular: the nuclear families,
extended families, single-parent
families, the foster families and polygamous families. Each
of these family structures has significant roles it plays in shaping the behaviours of
adolescents within the home.
The
nuclear family is one of the traditional families within the Nigerian social
and family system. It is a family consisting of
a married man and woman, and their biological child or children. This family
form is the one most reinforced in the dominant society. Children born in the
nuclear family have direct impact and influence first from their biological
parents, and can face varying challenges as they grow into adults. This type of
family can be a vital and ideal environment for child upbringing as long as
there is love, time spent with children, emotional support; low stress and a
constant and reliable economic atmosphere, as well as adequate education of the
parents. This type of family can also be strained by certain variables such as
the absence of love and peace between parents, poor time with children, and
lack of emotional support, high stress circumstances and a harsh economic
circumstance (Glick, 2009). Thus youths from this type of family are give
adequate parental monitoring which makes them not to be involved in delinquent behaviours. Findings
from Halpern-Meekin and Tach (2008) revealed that the most children from the nuclear family are usually
exhibit low level of delinquent. It is on these bases, the present study sought
to determine the extent to which the nuclear family structure correlates the adolescent delinquent behavior.
The extended family
is another type of family structure the present
study explored its relationship with adolescent delinquent behaviour. The
extended family is composed of the father, mother, and other relatives, either related
by blood, or some cases, within the same ‘kindred’. The extended family is very
significant in the construction of the African family system, and in the upbringing
of a child (Bade & Ikuku, 2009). In Nigeria, it is highly revered and much
importance is attached to it, especially with regards to a communal living
idea, based on the principle of common brotherhood. The idea of a child’s
upbringing ‘is the responsibility of all’ is most observed within the extended
family structure. It is a family where grandparents or aunts and uncles play
major roles in the children’s upbringing(Ikuku, 2007). This may or may not
include those relatives living with the children. However, relationships (Positive
or negative ) do exists may exists between the extended family structure and
delinquent behaviours. Based on this, findings from Frantz Sixaba and Smith (2015)
revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between the extended
family structure and adolescent risk behaviors and delinquency. These they are affirmed
that children who live with relations, grandparents, aunts and uncle are very vulnerable
to be involved in delinquent behaviors. It
is on these bases, the present study sought to determine the extent extended
family structure correlates the adolescent delinquent behavior.
The single-parent family structure is essential in describing
the upbringing and behaviour of adolescents. This type of family structure can be either a father or a mother who
is singly responsible for the raising of a child (Glick, 2009). The child can
be by birth or adoption. They may be a single parent by choice or by life
circumstances. The other parent may have been part of the family at one time or
not at all. This family system impacts significantly on the development of the
adolescent due to the absence of one parent. Factors such as stress resulting
from pressure on family income, parenting challenges other family resources
combine to determine the influence of the single-parent family on the behaviour
of the adolescent(Ryan, 2000). Findings from Brown (2008) revealed that
significant positive relationship exists between single parent (father or
mother parenting) and adolescent delinquent behaviour. Brown went further to state that the single
parents hardly have time like the double parents in taking care of their
children which makes the children to be vulnerable to indulge in adolescent
delinquent behavior. It is on these bases, the present
study sought to determine the extent single family structure correlates adolescent
delinquent behavior.
Foster family structure is the system in which a child
is located in a family other than that of his/her biological parents. It is a
family where one or more of the children is legally a temporary member of the
household (Olugbenga, 2007). This temporary period may be as short as a few
days or as long as the child’s entire childhood. Kinship care families are
foster families where there is a legal arrangement for the child to be cared
for by relatives of one of the parents (Ikuku, 2007). In this family, which can
be a single-parent family, a nuclear or extended family, as well as a childless
family, the attention is on the foster child whose upbringing depends on the
foster parents. In Nigeria, as in many other African countries, the foster
family structure is usually poorly conceptualized, as what is evident is
children who are in the care of other parents, who may be related in several
ways, hence this influences their adolescent delinquent behaviour. These
children face many behavioural and upbringing challenges (Glick, 2009).
Meanwhile findings of Ryan(2008) showed
that children who do not live with their biological parents tends to indulge in
adolescent delinquent behaviour as the
children will do so for fear of anxiety. To this extent he asserts that there
is a strong significant correlation between foster family and adolescent
delinquent behaviour.
Polygamy represents expanded family structures that are based on
marriages involving a husband with 2 or more wives(Goodwin, 2009). Interestingly,
polygamy is legally and widely practiced in many societies across the globe. In
the last 2 decades, polygamy has been the focus of a significant growth in
public, political, and academic awareness and how it affects child upbringing.
Indeed, several quantitative and qualitative research articles and theoretical
papers have emerged during this period, particularly concerning the effects of
this form of marital structure on behavioral, emotional, and academic
adjustment of children. However, to date, no researcher has provided a summary
of the extant literature. Thus, this study will summarize findings and discuss
implications of empirical studies that have examined whether polygamous marital
structures are beneficial or harmful or influences adolescent delinquent
behaviours in comparison with children raised in monogamous marital structures.
To this extent findings of Al-Sharfi,
Pfeffer & Miller(2015) showed that the Polygamous family structure
influences adolescent delinquent behavior. Also differences were found between
young people from polygynous and monogamous families on a range of social
problems such as delinquent behavior differs significantly.
The relationship between family
structure and child upbringing, particularly adolescent behaviour, is a subject
of concern to researchers and policy makers alike in the field of human
development. Various researches have indicated
the relationship between the kind of family a child is born into and the nature
of upbringing that is available to such child (Akanbi, Gbadebo, Adekola, Olawole-Isaac, Sowunmi and Godwin, 2015; Acock and Demo,
2004). For example, the family composition has been theorized to have several
benefits for children. For example, children have easy access to biological
parents, higher parental involvement, more enjoyable parent-child relationship,
rare cases of disagreements between children and parents among the in-tact
families (Acock and Demo, 2004).The
family system is no longer characterized by the traditional two-parent structure
due to increasing numbers of single parent household. However, it has been
observed that some of the effects of changes in family system may be negative
or positive on the development of the adolescent (Glick, 2009).
Rivers state is also
characterized by family structures which include single-parenthood, informal
foster system, polygamy. Hence, understanding the structure of the family a
child grows in, and the relationship that exist between the different family structures
and adolescent delinquent behaviour can be
significant to finding solutions to address the problem. A study of this
magnitude, which examined the extent of relationship between the family
structure and adolescent delinquent behaviour in secondary schools Rivers State
becomes of utmost importance.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The adolescent is both a fragile
specie and a great prospect to any society if properly groomed and managed.
Because of the fragility of the age of adolescence, the adolescent is
susceptible to engaging in harmful behaviours which can be injurious to self
and the society at large. In the present time, it is common to find young
people within the ages of 13 and 20 being involved in certain practices that
have become social menaces. In Rivers state for example, most crimes such as
drug abuse, thuggery, rapes, cultism, sexual immorality, street hooliganism,
school absenteeism which have created some social apprehension are rampant
among youths within adolescent ages. It is a common phenomenon to find
adolescents who indulge in negative behaviours such as street fights, stealing,
alcoholism, truancy, school absenteeism, bullying and even armed robbery.
Exposure to hard drugs by younger persons of school age remained a major
concern for family members and the larger society. While alcohol use is a
significant public health problem many adolescents have been found to be
involved in drinking. Secondary school students drink alcohol and engaged in
binge drinking (a short period of excessive drinking); some who have access to
driving also drive after drinking.
These behaviours pose immediate
risks for adolescents including injuries, accidents, physical and sexual
assault, and risky sexual and social behavioras well as long term risks
including poor academic performance, physical health problems, changes in brain
development, dependency and abuse of other substances. Increased risk for
suicide and homicide, and an increased likelihood of alcohol and drug use
disorders in adulthood. Negative behaviours by adolescents do not only affect
the growth, and even lasting implications for later development for the
adolescent, but also is a major concern for families and the society.
It was in view of these that the present study sought to investigate through empirical
evidences to provide answers to
questions such as;To what extent do the different family structures such as
nuclear, extended, single-parent, foster and polygamous correlates the in-school adolescent
delinquent behaviours in secondary schools in Rivers State?
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study was to
examine the extent family structure correlates in-school adolescent’s
delinquent behaviours in secondary schools inRivers state of Nigeria.
Specifically, the study sought to:
i.
identify the various family
structures the in-school adolescent belongs to Rivers state;
ii.
determine the extent
nuclear family structure correlates in-school
adolescent delinquent behaviours in secondary schools.
iii.
find out the extent extended family structure
correlates in-school adolescent delinquent behaviour in secondary schools.
iv.
determine the extent single-parent family structure correlates in-school
adolescent delinquent behaviours in secondary schools.
v.
determine the extent
foster family structure correlates the in-school adolescents delinquent
behaviours in secondary schools.
vi.
find out the extent polygamous family structure correlates the
in-school adolescent delinquent behavior in secondary schools.
1.4RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following
research questions were posed for the study
1. What
are the various family structures the in-school adolescents belong to in Rivers
State?
2. To
what extent does the nuclear family structure correlates in-school adolescent
delinquent behaviour in secondary schools in Rivers State?
3. To
what extent does the extended family structure correlates in-school adolescent
delinquent behaviour in secondary schools Rivers State?
4. To
what extent does the single-parent family structure correlates in-school adolescent delinquent behaviours in secondary schools Rivers state?
5. To
what extent does the foster family structure correlates in-school adolescents’
delinquent behaviours in secondary schools Rivers state?
6. To
what extent does polygamy family structure correlates in-school adolescent delinquent behaviour in secondary schools Rivers state?
1.5 HYPOTHESES
The following null
(H0) hypotheses were tested
at 0.05 level of significance.
1.
There is no significant
correlation between the nuclear family structure and in-school adolescent
delinquent behaviour in secondary schools Rivers State.
2.
There is no significant
difference between the extended family structure and in-school adolescent delinquent
behaviour in secondary schools Rivers State.
3.
There is no significant
difference between the single parent family structure and in-school adolescent
delinquent behaviour in secondary schools Rivers State.
4.
There is no significant
correlation between the foster family structure and in-school adolescent delinquent
behaviour in secondary schools Rivers State.
5.
There is no significant
correlation between the polygamous family structure and in-school adolescent
delinquent behaviour in secondary schools in Rivers State.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are those who may
benefit from the findings of this study; they are the families, the society, the
adolescent, policy makers and intending researcher.
The families may not understand the
predictors of adolescent wellbeing and behaviour, hence may not be able to
manage adolescent outcomes. The findings of this study will provide insights to
the world of adolescence - the experiences, determinants of adolescent
behaviours, and the impact of the different family structures on the
development of the adolescent. The findings will reveal whether significant positive
or negative correlation exists between
the different family structures(nuclear,
extended, single parents, foster and polygamous) and adolescent delinquent
behaviours. Also, because many adult family members, especially parents, may
not understand how adolescents function and react which may lead to negative
adolescent outcomes such as delinquent
behaviours. This study will provide information on the varying degrees of
challenges that adolescents face. Hence, it will help parents, would-be
parents, guardians and other adolescent caregivers to understand the family
structures significantly correlates on the delinquent behaviour of the
adolescent. These benefit the families will get through religious and other
socio-cultural group meetings, seminars organized for families, campaigns, and
workshops.
The society is usually a direct and
indirect influence on the family and the adolescent, and vice versa. The
findings of the study may benefit the society as it will avail them on the best
family structure(s) to adopt which has a significant positive correlation onthe
adolescent delinquent behaviour. This is because the society has a role to play
in constantly influencing the families structures which influences adolescent delinquent behaviours. These
the society may benefit from the
findings of this study in their responsibility to make the society a better
place, through helping families with essential information on proper child
upbringing, adolescent behaviours and family structures, with regards to rural
and urban dwellers. Through seminars and workshops by relevant agencies such as
civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, the media, the
findings of this study will benefit the members of the society.
The adolescent is a direct
beneficiary of the findings of this study. The findings of the study will make
them to be aware of the different family structure the adolescents belongs to
and how these family structures
correlates their adolescent
delinquent behaviours. Thus delinquent behaviours exhibited by adolescents such
as truancy, school absenteeism, substance abuse, sexual immorality, cultism,
bullying, violence, etc have grave effects on the development of the
adolescent. Also, many adolescents – urban and rural – lack knowledge of the
implications of some of their actions, especially as research has indicated
that many families fail in their responsibilities in ensuring normal adolescent development
devoid of deliquency, albeit as a result of circumstances which may overwhelm
them. Hence, when communicated to them, the adolescent may understand the
implications of these behaviours, and in turn, learn to function positively in
any family structure they find themselves. More so, adolescents whose parents
or would-be parents have access to the findings of the study through seminars,
workshops by churches, media groups etc, may be extricated from the impacts of
negative behaviours resulting from particular family structures and failure in
parenting.
To the policy makers the study will be of immense benefit as the
findings of the study will reveal to them the different family structures the
adolescents belong to and also reveal the relationship that has existed between
the different family structure and the adolescent delinquent behaviours, as the
findings will also help policy makers to implement the recommendations of the
study in bid to encourage the family
structures that correlate positively with the adolescent delinquent behaviour in a bid to minimise adolescent delinquent
behaviours. These they
will benefit through revealing the findings and recommendations of the study at
different sensitization campaigns, media publicities and awareness programmes
on the influence of the parent child relationship patterns on the risky
adolescent behaviours.
The findings will also be of immense significance to intending
researchers who will carry out studies similar to this study, as it will
provide them with adequate reference materials for their study and an adequate
justification for further study. It will also availed them adequate opportunity
to appraise and constructively criticize the study with a view to finding gaps
which their own study will fill up. These they will benefit through by getting first hand information of the research
work or through publication of the research work.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study was delimited to examining
the extent family structure correlates adolescent’s delinquent behaviours in
Rivers State of Nigeria. The study identified the different family structures
adolescents belong to and determine how the various family structures such as
the nuclear family, extended family, single-parent family, polygamy, foster
family correlates the adolescent delinquent behaviours. The study was also
delimited to the in-school adolescent from the three education zones of Rivers
State. Lastly, the study was delimited to senior secondary in-school
adolescents in Rivers State, Nigeria.
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