GENDER AND SINGLE PARENTING AS CORRELATES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DELTA CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Onakpoberuo, Blessing Obakpororo, E.E Ebenuwa – Okoh & A. Onoyase
Department of Guidance and Counseling
Delta State University, Abraka.
Email: onasbles@yahoo.com, eduebentiwaokoh@yahoo.com,anna-onoyase@yahoo.com.
Abstract: Thisstudy investigated gender influence and single parenting as correlates of deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated for the study. A structured questionnaire titled “Gender and single parenting as correlates of deviant behaviour” was designed for the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey which is correlational in nature. Stratified random sampling procedure was used in the study in validating the instrument, factor analysis was use, face, content and construct validity of the instrument were established. A sample size of five hundred (500) students were drawn from a population of thirty-three thousand, five hundred and nineteen (33,519) senior secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District. The data generated in the study were analyzed with both correlation and multiple regression statistics to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed: (i) There is no significant relationship between gender, single parenting and deviant behaviour (ii) There is no significant relationship between gender and deviant behaviour. (iii) There is significant relationship between single parenting and deviant behaviour. Conclusions made were that (i) Gender and single parenting do not influence deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District (ii) Gender does not influence deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District. (iii) Single parenting influences deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District. Based on the findings, it was recommended that (i) All groups of students (male and female) should guide against bad company with negative peer influence as this can lead to maladaptive behaviour. (ii) Single parents should work hard so as to take care of their children’s school responsibilities (iii) School authorities should create enabling environment in form of good and adequate facilities and equipment with professional counsellors to handle negative gender influence among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District.