ABSTRACT

The study investigated generation gap challenges between adolescents and parents in Makurdi metropolis of Benue State. Four purposes, four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Makurdi metropolis of Benue State. The population comprised of 95,577 households. The sample of 200 parents and adolescents was drawn from the total population using multi-stage sampling technique. Questionnaire with 32 items was used for data collection for the study. The instruments were subjected to face-validity by 5 validates, 3 from Michael Okpara University, Umudike (MOUAU) and 2 from University of Agriculture, Markurdi (UAM). The reliability of the instruments was determined using test re-test reliability method and this yielded a reliability coefficient index of 0.86. Mean and standard deviation were used in answering four research questions, while four hypotheses were tested using t-test. The findings of the study shows that six items (Choice of Clothing (Fashion), Choice of food, sports, communication among others) are generational gap between parents and adolescents; items (change in fashion trend, change in technology over the years, ineffective communication between parents and adolescence, use of social networks/media, changes in lifestyles among others) were among causes of generational gap; items (spending more time on social networks, dating through social network, indecent dressing is the order of the day, respect of family values, increase in moral decay, among others) were among challenges posed by generational gap while items (ensuring effective communication between parents and adolescent, exhibiting responsible behavior by both parents and adolescents, parents spending more time with adolescent among others were known to be ways of bridging generational gap challenges between adolescents and parents in Makurdi metropolis. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that; National Orientation agency should carry out awareness campaign geared towards sensitizing both parents and adolescents. Parents and adolescents should learn how to tolerate and accommodate each other in order to facilitate peaceful co-existence in the family. Parents and adolescents should often engage in effective communication as it will help to generational gap between them.