PEER INFLUENCE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AS CORRELATES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DELTA CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Onakpoberuo, Blessing Obakpororo & F. N. Ugoji
Department of Guidance and Counseling
Delta State University, Abraka
Email: onasbles@yahoo.com
Abstract: Thisstudy investigated the relationship between peer influence and socio-economic status 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 “Peer influence, socio-economic status and 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 significant relationship between peer influence, socio-economic status and deviant behaviour (ii) There is significant relationship between socio-economic status and deviant behaviour. There is relationship between peer influence and deviant behaviour. Conclusions made were that (i) Peer influences deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District (ii) Socio-economic status influences deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District. Based on the findings, it was recommended that (i) Orientation programmes should be arranged for both students and parents on the need to eradicate deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District (ii) School authorities should create enabling environment in form of good and adequate facilities and equipment with professional counsellors to handle negative peer influence among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District.