Perception of Social Studies Teachers on Home Factors Contributing to Violent Behavior among Teenagers in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the perception of Social Studies teachers on home factors contributing to violent behaviour among teenagers. It also identified the causes of violent behaviour among teenagers and highlighted the methods of resolving violent behaviour among teenagers. This was with a view of curbing violent behaviour among teenagers. The study adopted survey design. The population for this study consisted of teachers in Junior Secondary Schools in the state. A total of 115 teachers were purposively selected in Osun State Junior Secondary Schools. All the selected teachers were Social Studies teachers. The questionnaire titled “Teachers’ Perception of Home Factors Contributing to Violent Behaviour among Teenagers” (TPHFCVB) was developed by the investigators to elicit information from the respondents and their responses were subsequently analysed with the use of Frequency Distribution Tables, Percentages and Factor Analysis. Results showed that 6 principal components explained nearly 73% of the variability in the original 21 variables. Also the results revealed that there were six home factors contributing to violent behaviour among teenagers which were: single parenting, over confidence, poor home, over protection and dependency on family, poor relationship between parents and children and coming from wealthy home. However, it was shown that 3 principal components explained nearly 70% of the variability in the original 11 variables. The first component highly correlated with being victims of physical abuse, exposure to violent films and increased stress and conflicts. The results further revealed that 7 variables had very high values that were very close to 1. This proved that all these variables were good methods of resolving violent behaviour among teenagers. The study concluded and inferred that there were several home and generic factors contributing to violent behaviour among teenagers in Osun State. However, organizing sex education and parenting programmes by the school couple with monitoring the type of films children watch can go a long way in suppressing violent tendency among teenagers.