Family Background Factors as Correlates of Juvenile Delinquency Among In-School Adolescents in Delta State

Abstract

This study determined the extent family background factors correlate with juvenile delinquency among in-school adolescents in Delta State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. A sample of 826 was used for the study. Two instruments namely, “Family Background Factors Questionnaire (FBFQ)” and Juvenile Delinquent Behaviour Questionnaire (JDBQ)” were developed by the researcher and validated by three experts. The stability of the FBFQ and JDBQ was determined using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and reliability indices 0.85 and 0.86 were obtained. The internal consistency of the FBFQ and JDBQ was determined using Cronbach Alpha and reliability indices of 0.79 and 0.81 were obtained. The data collected were analyzed using Pearson’s r, R2  to answer the research questions while linear regression analysis was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 levels of significance. The findings of the study indicated that intact family unit structure significantly correlated with juvenile delinquent behaviour of in-school adolescents as it predicted 55.1% of the variance observed in the juvenile delinquent behaviour of in-school adolescents. Broken homes correlated with 91.4% of the variance observed in the juvenile delinquent behaviour of in-school adolescents. It was concluded that broken homes have more negative causative impact than intact family unit structure on juvenile delinquent behaviour of in-school adolescents. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that functional counselling centres be established at secondary education level and professional counsellors employed to counsel the students.