JNSS 2017, 8(3-4):91-98 | DOI: 10.32725/jnss.2017.010

Socio-economic influences as correlates of adolescents' attitude towards deviant behaviour

Tracy B. E. Omorogiuwa^1,*, Kingsley O. Omorogiuwa²

¹ University of Benin, Department of Social Work, Benin City, Nigeria

² University of Benin, Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology, Benin City, Nigeria

This study is focused on adolescent deviant behaviour in relation to the socio-economic influences. A correlational survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 540 adolescents from Secondary Schools in the Benin Metropolis was randomly selected for this study. A sample of 90 adolescents was randomly selected from 6 schools. Three experts determined the content validity of the instrument, and subsequently administered to 40 adolescents in a Secondary School, who were not part of the sample of study. After an interval of three weeks the instrument was re-administered to the same 40 adolescents. The data obtained from these two administrations was subjected to Pearson's correlation statistic; and a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.96 was obtained. The mean and standard deviation was employed to answer the research questions, while the Pearson product moment and the point bi-serial correlation statistics was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The results show that socio-economic contexts, parental income, peer group influence, adolescents' gender and age are linked to adolescents' attitude toward deviant behaviour. Recommendations are made to parents or guardians, child protection and helping professionals to engage in intervention measures in response to the phenomenon of deviant behaviour in order to improve the well-being of adolescents in the Nigerian context.

Keywords: socio-economic; adolescents; attitude; deviant behaviour; income; gender; age; peer

Received: April 20, 2017; Accepted: May 25, 2017; Published: September 1, 2017  Show citation