ALCOHOL USE, ANXIETY AND DEMOGRAPHIC PREDICTORS OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN IBADAN AND UYO METROPOLISES: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY
Mfon E. Ineme, Idris A. Sadiku, Kubiat M. Ineme & Helen O. Osinowo
Department of Psychology, University of Uyo, Nigeria
Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Department of Curriculum Studies, Educational Management and Planning, University of Uyo, Nigeria
Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan
Email:mfonineme@yahoo.com, b2kbolaji@gmail.com, kubiatineme1@rocketmail.com & helenosinowo@yahoo.com
Abstract
This study investigated alcohol use, anxiety and demographics as predictors of aggressive behaviour among adolescents in Ibadan and Uyo metropolises. It was a cross-cultural survey utilizing an ex-post facto design. A total of 447 purposively sampled adolescents from Yoruba and Ibibio cultures participated in the study. Revalidated Alcohol Use Identification Test by Babor, Higgins-Biddle, Saunders & Monteiro (1993) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory by Spielberger (1983), and Aggressive Scale by Orpinas & Frankowsk (2001) were used to collect data. The Pearson-r results {r= .19, df = 445, p<.05} showed that alcohol use positively correlated with aggression, the results {t (445) = 4.89, p<.05} and {R2 = .32, F (6, 441) = 7.26, p < .05} indicated that anxiety and demographic factors respectively predicted aggressive behaviour among the participants. Gender, family type, perceived parenting style, family size, and parental marital status independently predicted aggressive behaviour among the participants. Moreso, the 4 {t (445) = 1.46, p>.05} indicated that adolescents who were of the Yoruba culture were not significantly different in aggressive behaviour from those who were of the Ibibio culture. Age was not an independent predictor. It was suggested that adolescents, parents, guardians, and teachers should be mindful of these factors while psychologists and other behaviour scientists develop valid intervention programmes to curb the aggression among adolescents.
Keywords:Aggression, Alcohol Use, Anxiety, Demographic Factors, Culture