The Effect of Family Environment on Rates of Violence Juvenile Delinquency in Lagos
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
General objective
The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship that exist between the family environment and adolescents’ involvement in delinquent behaviours in some selected secondary schools in, Lagos Sub-Division of North West, Nigeria.
Specific objectives
- To examine the relationship between family environment (that is, family size, marital status of parents and single parenting) and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
- To examine the relationship between authoritarian parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
- To examine the relationship that exists between authoritative parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
- To examine the relationship between permissive parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours
- To examine the relationship between neglectful parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, the researcher critically examined some basic concepts in her study. The review of related literature in context and the theories related to the study was also examined. This chapter contains the following sub-titles.
KEY CONCEPTS OF THE STUDY
Parenting Styles
Darling and Steinberg, (1993) defined parenting as a constellation of attitudes towards the child that, jointly considered, create an emotional environment where parental behaviours are expressed. Baumrind (1971) in her study of parenting views parenting styles as a psychological construct which represent standard strategies parents use in raising their children. Parenting has been recognized as a major vehicle in socializing the child (Utti 2006). Parenting according to Utti, (2006) is the act of parenthood, the child upbringing, training, and rearing or child education. Parenting styles depends on the behaviour and attitude of parents. The term is a complex activity that includes many specific behaviours that work individually and collectively to influence the child. Baumrind (1971) identified two major variables, which centered on parenting styles and child outcomes. One of them was the responsiveness of parents to their child’s needs in a reasonable, nurturing and supportive way, and the other the demands parents place on their child. Demandingness, according to Baumrind (1996, p. 411), refers to “claims that parents make on children to become integrated into the family and community by their maturity expectations, supervision, disciplinary efforts, and willingness to confront a disruptive child.” Demandingness can be gauged based on the level of direct confrontation, well-defined monitoring techniques, and patterns of discipline that one utilizes while parenting. The idea of demandingness is comprised of direct confrontations between parent and child, parental monitoring of the child, and consistent parental discipline. The idea of responsiveness consists of warmth, reciprocity, and clear communication and person-centered discourse. The convergence of demandingness and responsiveness results in four different parenting styles: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and neglecting/rejecting.
Parenting is a most challenging yet rewarding experience. Baumrind, who studied parenting styles during the early 1960s, concluded that they differ in four important areas: parents’ warmth/nurturance, discipline strategy, communication skills, and expectations of maturity. She then posited the following types of parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, indulgent and authoritative. Research indicates a significant link between parental or caregiver involvement and an individual’s propensity to engage in or delinquent behaviours. A lack of parental interaction and involvement, a characteristic of the indifferent parenting style, increases the risk for violence, particularly among male juveniles (Hawkins et al., 2000). Criminological research suggests that a weak parent-child bond is a key determinant of juvenile offending or delinquency (Steinberg, 2001; Patterson et al., 1992) and contribute to adult offending. The authoritarian and neglectful parenting styles, based on their characteristics, are associated with drug use and behavioral problems (Baumrind, 1978). The different parenting styles are discussed below.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter is concerned with the methods used by the researcher in the investigation the relationship between parenting styles and family environment; and juvenile’ delinquent bahaviour. To facilitate understanding of this chapter, it is divided into some sub-headings as research design, area of study, population, sample size and sample technique, research instrument, validation of the instrument, reliability of the instrument, plan of data collection, plan of data analysis, budget estimate and time budget. The presentation of this work will follow the respective order above.
RESEARCH DESIGN
To investigate the relationship between parenting styles, family environment and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours, the researcher used the correlational survey research design. This design helped the researcher describe the strength of the relationship between her variables.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The population of this study was 1460 adolescents in the selected schools. The target population comprised of all the form four and lower-sixth students within the ages of 12 and 19 years of age in Lagos.
The accessible population was comprised of all the form four and lower-sixth students within the ages of 12 and 19 years of age in one lay private school, one government school and one confessional school in Lagos.
CHAPTER FOUR
FINDINGS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data collected from the field using questionnaire addressed to students of public, private and confessional schools selected from general secondary schools in Lagos Municipality. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Descriptively, tables and charts with frequencies and percentages were used. Inferentially, the Pearson chi-square test of independence was seen as the most appropriate statistical technique to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance and to measure the relationship between variables.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
INTRODUCTION
This is the last chapter, which focuses on the discussion of the main findings done per research question and hypothesis. This is closely followed by the limitations of the study as well as practical and theoretical implications of the findings. Some recommendations and suggestions for further study were equally made and the chapter ends with a general conclusion.
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
This study aimed at investigating the relationship that exists between family environment and adolescents’ involvement in delinquent behaviour. After the analysis of data, the following results were obtained.
Research Questions
The first question that this research aimed at answering was whether there is a relationship between family environment and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. The analysis of data collected in line with this question showed that the greatest number of students, (33.5%) lives with both parents, 48.1% have less than four siblings, 81.7% of their parents are married, and 45.9% of them are always given equal attention. Since most of the respondents lived in families with both parents, most of them were given equal attention due to the averagely small size of their families. This also made them less involved in delinquency with only 38.5% of them involved in delinquent behaviours. This shows that the majority of students who live with both married parents, have fewer siblings and are given equal attention are less involved in delinquent behaviours. This corresponds with Thornberry, et al. (1999) who said that children who live in homes with only one parent or in which marital relationships have been disrupted by divorce or separation are more likely to display a range of behavioral problems including delinquency, than children who are from two parent families. Mullens A. (2006) also says that juveniles from broken homes are 2.7 times more likely to run away from their family than children living in intact homes. Farrington, in 1992 also found out that large family size predicts self-reported delinquency as well as convictions.
The second question that this research aimed at answering was whether there is a relationship between authoritarian parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. The analysis of data collected in line with this question showed that 24.7% of the respondents scored highest in authoritarian parenting. The highest proportion of these respondent indicated that their parents placed very strict rules on them, did not dialogue with them, always had the final say and supervised their activities. The majority of them were involved in delinquent behaviours such as bullying and fighting. This is in line with Georgiou et al work in 2013, where they questioned 231 young adolescents about their cultural values and experiences with peers. They found that kids from authoritarian homes were more likely to have experienced bullying both as victims and perpetrators. According to Baumrind, (1978) the external imposition of authority can increase the likelihood that adolescents will rebel and may become delinquent.
The third question that was whether there is a relationship between authoritative parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. The analysis of data collected in line with this question showed that there is a relationship between authoritative parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. This could be seen from the high percentage (33.3%) of the respondent had authoritative parent and the highest proportion of them were never involved in delinquent behaviours. This is in line with Steinberg work in 1996 which showed that adolescence from authoritative parenting were more confident and responsible, less likely to use or abuse drugs or alcohol, and less likely to be involved in delinquency. They also respect authority, are accountable, and control their impulses. They also respect authority, are accountable, and control their impulses since parents use reason, negotiation, and persuasion, not force to gain their children’s cooperation
The forth question was whether there is a relationship between permissive parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. The analysis of data collected in line with this question showed that there is a relationship between permissive parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours where 28.7% of the respondent who were raised by permissive parent were found to be engaged in delinquent behaviours such as cheating, absenteeism from school, disobedience to parent and authority and gambling. Because their parents have les expectations for their behaviours, ignore their bad behaviours and allow them to have their way in whatever they want, this makes them wayward and out of control, thereby leading to delinquency. This is justified by Dworkin, 1997; Barakat and Clark, 1999, who said that permissive parents find it hard to set clear limits, provide structure, are inconsistent disciplinarians, and reward bad behaviour regularly. As such, children are not pushed to obey guidelines or standards that, even when they do exist, are not enforced
The fifth and last question that this research aimed at answering was whether there is a relationship between neglectful parenting and adolescents’ involvement in delinquent behaviours. Based on analysis of data collected, 10% (lowest) of the respondents scored highest in neglectful parenting and just 8.4% (lowest) had the highest score in delinquency measurement. The feelings and needs of these adolescents were not met, their parents never cared about who they interact with or what they do. They were free to do what they wish and so they could be found engage in behaviours like stealing, gambling, rude fighting because they were unaware of their parents’ expectations. This type of parenting has the worst outcome on adolescents. This is in line with the findings from Huver et al. (2007) who supports that children of neglecting parents are more likely to engage in tobacco use than other children. This indicates a great relationship between the two variables.
Research Hypothesis
The first research hypothesis stated that there is no there is no significant relationship between family environment and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. At 2 degrees of freedom and 0.05 level of significance, the calculated value of X2 (154.2) is far greater than (>) the critical value of X2 (5.991) on the Chi Square (X2) statistical table. Hence, the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected while the alternate hypothesis (Ha) was retained. The correlation coefficient between family environment and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours was as calculated to obtain 0.54. This implies that there is a strong positive association between family environment and adolescence delinquent behaviour. Therefore, statistically, there is a significant relationship between family environment and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
The second research hypothesis stated that there is no significant relationship between authoritarian parenting and adolescent’ delinquent behaviors. At 6 degrees of freedom and 0.05 level of significance, the calculated value of X2 (142.8) was far greater than (>) the critical value of X2 (12.592). Hence, the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected while the alternate hypothesis (Ha) is retained. The correlation coefficient between authoritarian parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours was calculated to be 0.52, implying that there is a strong positive association between authoritarian parenting adolescent delinquent behaviour. Therefore, there is a significant relationship between authoritarian parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
The third research hypothesis stated that there is no significant relationship between authoritative parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. At 6 degrees of freedom and 0.05 level of significance, the calculated value of X2 (125) was far greater than (>) the critical value of X2 (12.592). Hence, the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected while the alternate hypothesis (Ha) is retained. In addition, the correlation coefficient between authoritative parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours is 0.50 as calculated in chapter four. This implies that there is a strong positive association between authoritative parenting and adolescent delinquent behaviour. Hence, statistically, there is a significant relationship between authoritative parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
The forth research hypothesis stated that there is no significant relationship between permissive parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. At 6 degrees of freedom and 0.05 level of significance, the calculated value of X2 (284.3) is far greater than (>) the critical value of X2 (12.592). Hence, the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected while the alternate hypothesis (Ha) was 0.65retained. The correlation coefficient was calculated and 0.65 obtained, implying that there is a strong positive association between permissive parenting and adolescent delinquent behaviour. Therefore, statistically, there is a significant relationship between Permissive parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
The fifth research hypothesis stated that there is no significant relationship between neglectful parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours. At 6 degrees of freedom and 0.05 level of significance, the calculated value of X2 (41.2) is far greater than (>) the critical value of X2 (12.592). Hence, the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected while the alternate hypothesis (Ha) was retained. The calculated correlation coefficient between the two variables was 0.65, implying that there is a positive association between neglectful parenting and adolescent delinquent behaviour. Statistically, there is a significant relationship between neglectful parenting and juvenile’ delinquent behaviours.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings and discussion, the following recommendations are made:
Since the family environment and parenting styles adopted by the parents of adolescents have a significant relationship with their delinquent behaviours, there is the need for the parents to adopt authoritative parenting style along side with authoritarian parenting. This will enhance optimal parenting environment for proper socialization of adolescents. Parents should design an environment that will demonstrate warmth, acceptance, emotional support and involvement in the upbringing of their children.
There is also the need for training that will serve as parent training intervention to equip parents with the skills and dispensation required for being both responsive and demanding. Structures such as Parents Teachers Association (PTA) should be strengthened to discuss such issues.
Enlightening programmes on good parenting should be organized for parents and guidance to expose them to different parenting styles and how they can contributed or influenced the behaviour of adolescents at home, in school and in the society at large.
GENERAL CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the findings of the present study implied that parents play a significant role in determining adolescents’ delinquency. Thus, it is essential that parents are equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills so that they can provide better guidance for their adolescents’ positive development, especially in their socialization. The current research therefore contributes to our understanding of the role of family environment particularly, the family environment and parenting styles in forging adolescent behaviour. These variables, from the study, form predictive factors towards behaviour outcomes of adolescents. A negative climate in the family may lead to maladaptive behaviour patterns like delinquency, but also an adolescent’s delinquent behaviour may itself worsen the environment in these contexts (Estevez, et al, 2005).
References
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