Sociology and Criminology-Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Impact of Parental Care and Separation on Aggressive Behaviour of Adolescents in Owerri

Ajaegbu OO

The study investigated impact of parental care and separation on aggressive behaviour of adolescents in Owerri, Imo state. Bandura’s Social Learning theory was used to examine the influence of parental care and separation on aggressive behaviour of adolescents. Cross sectional survey research design was adopted while questionnaire was data collection tool for the study. The sample size consisted of two hundred and twenty (220) male and female secondary school students selected from eight (8) schools in Owerri. Their ages ranged from 13 to 17 years, with a mean and standard deviation ages of 14.8 and 1.34 respectively. A multi-stage (purposive and convenience) sampling method was adopted for the study. Parental care scale and Buss–Perry aggression scale were the instruments used for data collection. Both descriptive and inferential (2-way ANOVA) statistical methods were used for data analysis and were computed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results showed that; irrespective of parental care and separation, no aggression was found among adolescents in Owerri; Parental care had no impact on aggressive behaviour of adolescents; Parental separation had no impact on aggressive behaviour of adolescents. Finally, no statistical significant interaction influence of parental care and parental separation on aggressive behaviour of adolescents was found. Suggestion was made that other variables which may lead to aggression among adolescents in Owerri be examined in further studies.