PARENTING STYLE AS A PREDICTOR OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Christiana Ihuoma Ahaneku, Ngozika Lovina Nwobi, PhD, Francisca Uju Udeagha, Chiamaka Benita Ndukanma

Abstract


This study investigated parenting style as a predictor of delinquent behaviour among secondary school students in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population comprised 2,300 Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) students in 19 public secondary schools, from which a sample of 375 students was selected using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were collected using two standardized instruments: the Parenting Style Scale (PSS) and the Delinquent Behaviour Scale (DBS). Descriptive statistics were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed to determine the relationship between parenting styles and delinquent behaviour at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the majority of the students (66.13%) were raised with a responsive parenting style, while 33.87% experienced demanding/control parenting style. Results further showed that 74.93% of the students exhibited prosocial behaviour, whereas 25.07% demonstrated delinquent behaviour. The correlation analysis indicated a high positive relationship (r = 0.76) between parenting style and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students. The study concluded that parenting style is a significant predictor of delinquent behaviour, with responsive parenting being associated with prosocial behaviour and demanding/control parenting linked to higher tendencies of delinquency. It was recommended that parents adopt more responsive and balanced parenting approaches to reduce delinquent behaviour and promote healthy psychosocial development among adolescents.


Keywords


parenting style, delinquent behaviour, adolescents, secondary school students, Awka South Local Government Area.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adesanya, B. J., & Osinowo, H. O. (2019). Parenting styles and personality traits as predictors of delinquent behaviours among juvenile offenders in Ogun State, Nigeria. African Journal for the Psychological Studies of Social Issues, 22(3), 23–49. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajpssi/article/view/218313

Adewuyi, H. O. (2023). Delinquency among senior secondary school adolescents: Psycho-personological factors. International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 15(3), 2145–2165.

Baumrind, D. (2005). Patterns of parental authority and adolescent autonomy. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2005(108), 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1002/cd.128

Rathinabalan, I., & Naaraayan, S. A. (2017). Effect of family factors on juvenile delinquency. International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 4(5), 2079–2082. https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20174091

Okeke, C. V., Obi-Nwosu, H., & Onuoha, O. C. (2024). Parental styles and moral disengagement as predictors of attitude towards cybercrime among undergraduates. ZIK Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 7(1), 207–222.

Chigbu, E. F., Nwobi, N. L., Ngwaka, L. C., & Mokwelu, B. O. (2021). Parenting styles of in-school adolescents in South-East Nigeria. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(8). https://scholar.google.com

Chigbu, E. F., Ofojebe, E. N., Grace, C. N., Uzoekwe, H. E., & Mokwelu, B. O. (2022). Parenting styles as determinant of sexual behaviour of in-school adolescents in South-East Nigeria. European Journal of Education Studies, 9(2), 80–84.

Chigbu, E. F., Nwobi, N. L., Ngwaka, L. C., & Mokwelu, B. O. (2021). Parenting styles of in-school adolescents in South-East Nigeria. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(8), 121–134. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v8i8.3842 (OAPub)

Chigbu, E. F., Ofojebe, E. N., Nnadi, G. C., Uzoekwe, H. E., & Mokwelu, B. O. (2022). Parenting styles as determinant of sexual behaviour of in-school adolescents in South-East Nigeria. European Journal of Education Studies, 9(2), 79–106. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v9i2.4152 (OAPub)

Ngwaka, L. C., Chigbu, E. F., Oguzie, A. E., & Nwadinobi, V. N. (2021). Parenting styles as correlates of teenage pregnancy among adolescents in public secondary schools in Enugu State, Nigeria. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(8), 121–134. (OAPub)

Oguzie, A. E., Chigbu, E. F., Mokwelu, O. B., & Okpala, M. C. (2025). Parenting styles as correlates of academic achievement in mathematics among secondary school students in Awka South Local Government Area. Advance Journal of Current Research, 10(3), 1–11. Retrieved from https://aspjournals.org/Journals/index.php/ajcr/article/view/1025 (ASP Journals)

.Darvishi, M., Vahid, M. K. A., Athar, M. E., Trejos-Castillo, E., & Habibi Asgarabad, M. (2022). The explanation of adolescent delinquent behaviors based on Jessor’s problem behavior theory (PBT) in Iran: The role of individual vulnerability, opportunity risk availability, and perceived support. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 744794. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.744794

Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 11(1), 56–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431691111004

Maccoby, E. E., & Martin, J. A. (1983). Socialization in the context of the family: Parent-child interaction. In P. H. Mussen (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 4. Socialization, personality, and social development (pp. 1–101). Wiley.

UNESCO. (2023). Global education monitoring report: Technology in education. UNESCO Publishing.

Vintenaba, S. S., Ndidi, E. E., Harry, A. M., & Kennedy, O. A. (2021). [Article title not provided]. Global Educational Research Journal, 9(4), 10–18. https://issn-2360-7963

Xiong, R., Li, S. D., & Xia, Y. (2020). A longitudinal study of authoritative parenting, juvenile delinquency and crime victimization among Chinese adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1405. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041405


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Christiana Ihuoma Ahaneku, Ngozika Lovina Nwobi, PhD, Francisca Uju Udeagha, Chiamaka Benita Ndukanma

 

 

 

 ISSN (PRINT):    2734 - 2522

 ISSN (ONLINE):  2734 - 2514

 

 

 

   

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.