Childhood experiences and adolescent delinquent behaviour among remand home inmates in Lagos, Nigeria

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Date
2010-11
Authors
Emeri, P.N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
School of Postgraduate Studies of the University of Lagos, Akoka
Abstract
This study investigated childhood experiences and adolescent delinquent behaviour among remand home inmates in Lagos, Nigeria. It hence sought to ascertain the contributions of; corporal punishment, parental use of invectives, parental abandonment and parental deprivation to adolescent delinquency. To achieve these objectives, eight hypotheses were raised which include: Corporal punishment in childhood will not significantly affect adolescent delinquent behaviour. Parental use of invectives will not significantly affect adolescent delinquent behaviour. Deprivation in childhood will not significantly affect adolescent delinquent behaviour. Abandonment in childhood will not significantly affect adolescent delinquency. There is no significant effect of gender on the extent to which maltreatment affects the level of delinquency. Age has no significant effect on the extent to which maltreatment affects the level of delinquency. There is no significant influence of parental socio-economic status on the forms of maltreatment and level of delinquency. Corporal punishment, parental use of invectives, parental deprivation, parental abandonment, gender, age and socio-economic status will not significantly predict adolescent delinquent behaviour. The participants for the study consisted of one hundred and eighty (180) male and female adolescents drawn from the selected remand homes and approved schools in Lagos State using stratified random sampling technique. Gender, age and socio- economic status were the basis of the stratification. The participants were asked to respond to the instrument developed for the study. The instrument used for the data collection was a self-designed questionnaire. This comprised of three sections namely: Demographic Data Inventory (DDI), Childhood Experiences Structured Inventory (CESI) and Delinquency Structured Inventory (DSI). The DDI consisted of 28 items inquiring about the biographic data and home background of the participants such as sex, age, parental occupation, parental area of residence, number of cars owned by parents and items in the home. The CESI comprised of 20 items that sought information about the participants’ childhood experiences ranging from physical abuse, verbal abuse and neglects to display of love and maximum care. The DSI comprised of 20 items and elicited information on the respondent’s level of involvement in delinquent acts. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multiple Regressional Analysis were employed in the data analysis. The hypotheses were all tested at 0.05 level of significance. Results indicated that; Corporal punishment in childhood has a significant effect on adolescent delinquent behaviour’.  Parental use of invectives has a significant effect on adolescent delinquency.  Parental deprivation in childhood has a significant effect on adolescent delinquency.  Parental abandonment has a significant effect on adolescent delinquency.  Gender has no significant effect on the extent to which maltreatment affects the level of delinquency.  Age has no significant effect on the extent to which maltreatment affects the level of delinquency.  Parental socio-economic status has no significant influence on the forms of maltreatment and level of delinquency.  Corporal punishment (.161), parental deprivation (.342), parental abandonment (.251) and sex (-0.240) are strong predictors of delinquency among adolescents while age (.067), socio-economic status (.015) and parental use of invectives (- 061) were not found so strong. Where the indicated values are their respective beta weights A major implication of these findings of the study for parenting is that parents and other stakeholders in child rearing should strive to provide healthy childhood experiences to their children/wards devoid of any form of maltreatment to guard against delinquency in later life. Also, certain recommendations were made and suggestions for further studies stated.
Description
A thesis in the Departmenent of Educational Foundations submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies. In partial fulfillment for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in sociology of Education (PHD) of the University of Lagos, Akoka
Keywords
Childhood experiences , Adolescent delinquent behaviour , Corporal punishment , Parental abandonment , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education
Citation
Emeri, P.N. (2010). Childhood experiences and adolescent delinquent behaviour among remand home inmates in Lagos, Nigeria. A thesis in the Departmenent of Educational Foundations submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies. In partial fulfillment for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in sociology of Education (PHD) of the University of Lagos, Akoka, 230p.