FAMILY FACTORS AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Research questions

1.4        Objective of the study

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

CHAPETR TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 introduction

2.2 conceptual review

2.3 empirical review

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

Abstract

This study examines family factors that trigger antisocial behavior among youth and teenagers in Uyo metropolis. The causes of antisocial behaviors with reference to factors such as: the nature of the home environment, gender, socio economic status of parents, peer group influence, residential location. The study further poses the effects of antisocial behavior. The implications of adolescents’ antisocial behaviors on national development such as unattractive destination for tourists, low foreign investment, unemployment, poverty and hunger, insecurity of life and poverty. Finally, the study recommends among others, parents and guardians should show love and care to their children and wards. They should endeavor to monitor the type of image their children watch on television or video machines and effort should be made to advise them against watching violent images, keep away from friends or peers whose behaviors do not conform to the norms and values of the society.

        CHAPTER ONE

                                                INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

In modern times, there are varieties of behaviour exhibited by adolescent in Nigeria which make right thinking citizens wonder if our national values have been eroded, it is common to see youths bath one another with acid while quarreling over trivial matters. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry the activities of the Niger Delta militants in the Niger Delta region that held sway between 2007-2011 in which a lot of pipelines carrying oil were blown up and expatriate oil company workers and Nigerians alike were kidnapped. This period also witnessed unparalleled arson and vandalism of private and public property and a lot of lives were lost. These atrocities were perpetrated by adolescents as well as children. Currently, just as the militancy in the Niger Delta region is dying down, the Boko Haram sect started unleashing mayhem in the Northern region of the country. The senseless killing going on there makes one wonder if there is a calculated attempt by the sect members to wipe out an entire generation of Nigerians. All these despicable behaviors which are contrary to the norms and values of the society as perpetrated by the adolescents as well as adult cohorts qualify as antisocial behaviour. Antisocial behaviour, personality disorder or conduct disorder, a term synonymous with delinquency was defined by Wachikwu and Ibegbunam (2012) as crimes committed by young people below the age of eighteen years usually characterized by violation of existing social norms and values. It was defined by Mayer (2001) as a recurrent violation of socially prescribed patterns of behaviour usually involving aggression, vandalism, rule infractions, defiance of authority and violation of social norms. Similarly, antisocial behaviour was defined by Hanrahan (2006) as a disruptive act characterized by covert or overt hostility and intentional aggression towards others. It refers to an overall lack of adherence to the social norms and standards that allow members of a society to coexist peacefully. Observation by Lahey (2003) made the writer to describe people with conduct disorder in the following words. People with antisocial personalities have a low tolerance for frustration. They act on impulse, lose their temper quickly, and lie easily and skillfully, in childhood, they are often bullies who fight lie, cheat, steal, and are truant from school. They blame others for their misdeeds, feel Picked out by their parents and teachers, and never seem to learn from their mistakes. Antisocial behaviours are often exhibited by secondary school students, because majority of them are adolescents who want to risk behaviours like sexual activities, smoking, stealing, bullying, examination malpractice, abortion, rape, cultism, loitering, lateness and rudeness. These behaviours are inimical to the students and those in their environment. Furthermore. Kimberly and Jacob (2002) defined antisocial behaviour as any act that imposes physical or psychological harm on other people or their property. According to them, lying, stealing, assaulting others, being cruel to others and being sexually promiscuous are all examples of antisocial behaviour. Also, such behaviours may sometimes constitute a violation of legal codes, and it is often accomplished by disturbances of thought of emotion. Clare (2006) defined antisocial behaviours as destructive acts characterized by covert and overt hostility and intentional aggression towards others. According to him, high risk factors in the family setting can cause antisocial behaviour in the child. These factors include:- parental history of antisocial behaviours, parental alcohol and drug abuse, chaotic and unstable home life, absence of good parenting skills, use of coercive and corporal punishment, parental disruption due to divorce, death or other separation, parental psychiatric disorders, especially maternal depression and economic distress due to poverty and unemployment. Other causes of antisocial behaviours are – heavy exposure to media violence through television, movies, internet, video games and cartoons (Clare, 2006). He posited that engaging in antisocial behaviours poses great risk to an individual’s mental and physical health. It puts one at increased risk for alcoholism, cigarette smoking, illegal drug use, high risk of sexual behaviour, depression and engaging in violent acts towards others and self. In other words, the high risks of interpersonal and intra-personal implications of antisocial behaviors are readily apparent. One of the group of young ones who are vulnerable to antisocial behaviors are those with family factors.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In the search for the causes and correlates of juvenile antisocial behavior, delinquency in children is as a result of various factors namely: poverty, broken homes, and lack of education and employment opportunities, migration, drug or substance misuse, peer pressure, lack of parental guidance, violence, abuse and exploitation. This study while recognizing these causes, only seeks to focus on familial influence as a contributing or inhibiting factors to Children’s antisocial behaviors. All too often throughout the history of criminology, crime and delinquency has been studied as a male phenomenon. In an effort to expand the discipline, many studies have begun to explore the similarities and differences in the causes and correlates of male and female rates of crime and delinquency. Additionally, theory and research have begun to explore how gender itself may interact with other variables to influence the propensity towards antisocial and/or criminal behaviors. Antisocial behaviour has been one of the top problems confronting the nation today especially among the youth (Kipkeboi, 2013). Incidences of drug and alcohol abuse and related anti-social behavior have tremendously increased in Kiambaa constituency in recent years (Kipkeboi, 2013). This has become a matter of concern to the government, parents, teachers, Nongovernmental organizations and all other relevant agencies. It is more prevalent than parents suspect. Parents do not recognize the extent of these behaviors and as a result, some young people think they can go ahead with impunity on these acts (Kipkeboi, 2013). Most parents believe that it is the responsibility of teachers to check antisocial behavior among school going children and still most of them delude themselves that their children are safe and secure. Antisocial behavior is not confined to young people in certain geographical areas or from particular social-economic backgrounds only but its menace that cuts across. However, few studies have examined the mediating effects of social learning mechanisms in the influence of familial constructs on antisocial behavior (Darling, 2003). Conger (2005) also emphasized that researchers of family support must avoid what Widom (2007) called the fallacy of autonomy”. Some family factors are at least as important in the prediction of offending as are gender and race. Whereas, studies have been done to suggest the factors that influence antisocial behaviors in children, there seems to be no study on the factors influencing antisocial behavior among school going students in Uyo  metropolis. This therefore attempted to contribute to such efforts by analyzing the relationship between specific family constructs, the factors this study seeks to explore.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study has one objective which is divided into general and specific objectives, the general objective is to examine the family factors and antisocial behavior in Uyo Local government area; the specific objectives are;

1. i) To examine if parental lifestyle have any influence on antisocial behavior of teenagers in uyo local government.
2. ii) To examine the extent of influence parenting style exact on antisocial behavior in the study area.

iii) To examine if there is any relationship between family cohesion and antisocial behavior in the study area

1. iv) To ascertain the influence of family socioeconomic status on antisocial behavior
2. v) To ascertain whether family size enhanced antisocial behavior,

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

1. i) Is there any relationship between family cohesion and antisocial behavior in the study area?
2. ii) Does family size enhanced antisocial behavior among Uyo residents?

iii) Does family socioeconomic status have any influence on antisocial behavior in Uyo LGA?

1. iv) Does parenting style exact any influence on antisocial behavior in the study area?
2. v) Does parental lifestyle have any influence on antisocial behavior of teenagers in uyo local government?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

H₀: parental lifestyle has no influence on antisocial behavior of teenagers in uyo local government

H₁: parental lifestyle has influence on antisocial behavior of teenagers in uyo local government

H₀: There is no relationship between family cohesion and antisocial behavior in the study area

H₂: There is a relationship between family cohesion and antisocial behavior in the study area

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of importance to guidance and counselors as the study seek to examine the influence of family factors that could propel antisocial behavior in Uyo LGA, the study will also be of importance to parent as the study seek to explore the morally accepted social behavior among teenagers, the study will also be of great importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the study will serve as a reference point to further studies, finally the study will also be of importance to academia’s, students and the general public as the study will add to the pool of existing literature and also contribute to knowledge.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers family factors and antisocial behavior in Uyo local government area, but in the course of the study, there are some factors that limited the scope of the study;

AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Family

In the context of human society, a family (from Latin: familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth), affinity (by marriage or other relationship), or co-residence.

Family structure

Family structure” is a term that describes the members of a household who are linked by marriage or bloodline and is typically used in reference to at least one child residing in the home under the age of 18.

 Antisocial

Unwilling or unable to associate in a normal or friendly way with other people: He’s not antisocial, just shy.

Antisocial behavior

Antisocial behaviors are disruptive acts characterized by covert and overt hostility and intentional aggression toward others.

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Related Project Topics :