ABSTRACT

The study investigated the extent home variables predict behavioural problems of secondary school adolescents in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Six research questions and six null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a correlational survey research design.  A sample of 600 respondents drawn from a population of 20,000 secondary class two students between the ages of 15 and 19 years was used for the study. The study was drawn using two stage sampling technique. The instruments used for the study were Home Variables Questionnaire (HVQ) and Students Behavioural Problem Questionnaire (SBPQ). The instruments was validated by three experts in Educational Psychology and Counselling, and Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the instruments was determined using Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient and reliability indices of 0.76 and 0.87 were obtained for HVQ and SBPQ respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient analysis was used to answer the six research questions that guided the study while linear regression analysis was used to test the six hypotheses at alpha level of 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that home variables namely marital status of parents, family structure, economic status of parents, home training, and educational level of parents, respectively significantly (p<0.05) predicted behavioural problems of adolescents in secondary schools. Academic level of Parents had the highest percentage contribution of 76.7%, followed by Economic Status of Parents with 68.4%, Marital Status of Parents with percentage contribution of 64.3%, Family Structure with relative contribution of 55.7% and lastly the Home Training with 52.4% relative contribution. Summarily, joint home variables (status of parents, family structure, economic status, home training, educational level of parents) had 99.9% contribution in behavioural problems of adolescents in secondary schools. It was recommended that parents should give their children and wards adequate home training and improve on their economic status in order to raise children with little or no behavioural problems in the society. Also, school counsellors should be employed and also collaborate with classroom teachers to identify students with behavioural problems with a view to counselling the students.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                                i

Declaration                                                                                                                              ii

Certification                                                                                                                            iii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iv

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                v

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vi

List of Tables                                                                                                                          viii

Abstract                                                                                                                                  ix

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                                           1

1.2       Statement of Problem                                                                                                 5

1.3       Purpose of Study                                                                                                        6

1.4       Significance of the Study                                                                                           7

1.5       Research Questions                                                                                                     8

1.6       Hypotheses                                                                                                                 9

1.7       Scope of the Study                                                                                                     9

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE         

2.1       Conceptual Framework                                                                                               11

2.1.1    Concept and nature of home variables                                                                       11

2.1.2    Concept and characteristics of adolescents                                                                13

2.1.3    Home variables and associated adolescents’ behavioural problems                           15

2.1.4    Behaviour and behavioural problems of adolescents                                                  18

2.1.5    Factors affecting behaviours in adolescents                                                               22

2.1.6    Causes of behavioural changes in adolescents                                                            26

2.2       Theoretical Framework                                                                                              28

2.2.1    Problem behaviour theory by Richard Jessor and Shirley                                         

            Jessor (1966)                                                                                                               28

2.2.2    The theory of planned behaviour by Icez Ajzen (1985)                                             29

2.3       Review of Related Empirical Studies                                                                         30

2.4       Summary of literature review                                                                                     37

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.1       Design of the Study                                                                                                    40

3.2       Area of the Study                                                                                                       40

3.3       Population of the Study                                                                                              41

3.4       Sample and Sampling Techniques                                                                              42

3.5       Instrument for Data Collection                                                                                   42

3.6       Validation of the Instrument                                                                                      43

3.7       Reliability of the Instrument                                                                                       44

3.8       Method of Data Collection                                                                                         44

3.9       Method of data analysis                                                                                             45

 

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1       Result Presentation                                                                                                     46

4.2       Discussion of Findings                                                                                               59

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1       Summary of the Study                                                                                                64

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                                  66

5.3       Educational Implications of the Findings                                                                   66

5.4       Recommendations                                                                                                     68

5.5       Limitation of the Study                                                                                              69

5.6       Suggestions for Further Studies                                                                                 69

References                                                                                                                  71

Appendices                                                                                                                 83

 

LIST OF TABLES

Page

4.1:      Pearson product moment correlation coefficient analysis

on marital status of parents and behavioural problems of

adolescents students                                                                                       46

 

4.2:      Linear regression on how marital status of parents predict

behavioural problems of adolescent students                                                 47

 

4.3:      Pearson product moment correlation coefficient analysis

on family structure of parents and behavioural problems of

adolescents students                                                                                       48

 

4.4:      Linear regression on how family structure predicts behavioural

problems of adolescent students                                                                     49

 

4.5:      Pearson product moment correlation coefficient analysis

on economic status of parents and behavioural problems

of adolescents students                                                                                   50

 

4.6:      Linear regression on how economic status of parents predict

behavioural problems of adolescent students                                                 50

 

4.7:      Pearson product moment correlation of how economic status of parents     

            predict behavioural problems of adolescent students                                                 51

 

4.8:      Linear regression on how home training predicts behavioural                                    problems of adolescent students                                                                             52

 

4.9:      Pearson product moment correlation of how academic level of 

            parents predict behavioural problems of adolescents students                                   53

 

4.10:    Linear regression on academic level of parents and

behavioural problems of adolescent students                                                 54

 

4.11:     Correlation matrix of home variables and behavioural problems of

            adolescents students                                                                                                   55

 

4.12:    Relative contribution of home variables on behavioural problems of            

            adolescents students                                                                                                   57

 

4. 13:   Multiple regression analysis of home variables and behavioural                                problems of adolescents students                                                                           58