Parental Attitude and Antisocial Behaviour among Senior Secondary School Adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria
Keywords:
Parental Attitude, Antisocial Behaviour, Adolescents, Senior Secondary School, warmth/hostilityAbstract
This study explores the relationship between parental attitudes and antisocial behaviour in senior secondary school adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria. The goals involve evaluating how adolescents perceive parental attitudes (knowledge, warmth/hostility, and monitoring), investigating the impact of these attitudes on antisocial behaviours, and identifying gender differences in antisocial tendencies. A descriptive survey research design was employed to gather data from 2,342 students in their second year at public senior secondary schools across six educational districts in Lagos State. This was achieved through structured questionnaires, which included the Parental Attitude Scale (PAS) and the Substance Use Intention Scale (SUIS).The results indicated that adolescents viewed parental attitudes as notably high overall (x̄ = 3.531), with a robust understanding of academic performance (x̄ = 3.51) and emotional support (x̄ = 3.35) from their parents. Nonetheless, areas of concern were identified, including awareness of online activities (x̄ = 2.92) and hostility tendencies (x̄ = 2.67). Regression analysis revealed a notable correlation between parental attitude and antisocial behaviour (F = 45.519, p < 0.05), explaining 2.0% of the variance in antisocial tendencies. Gender differences were observed, with females exhibiting slightly elevated mean antisocial behaviour scores (x̄ = 24.65) in contrast to males (x̄ = 23.44), indicating diverse expressions of these behaviours. The study highlights the essential importance of empathetic and involved parenting in reducing antisocial behaviours, consistent with earlier findings that stress the beneficial effects of nurturing family environments. This underscores the necessity for tailored interventions that cater to unique behavioural manifestations based on gender. Recommendations include workshops for parents on effective parenting strategies, gender-tailored programs for emotional regulation in schools, and enhanced parental monitoring to address contemporary challenges like online safety. The results underscore the critical role that parenting plays in shaping adolescent development and behaviour.