Relationship among adolescents’ characteristics, peer group influence and anti-social behaviour

Abstract

This study examined the relationship among Adolescents’ developmental characteristics, peer group influence and their anti-social behaviours. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. The study is a survey -research. The sample size for this study is 594 students. The respondents were randomly selected from secondary schools in the 3 Senatorial Districts of Delta State. Questionnaire titled ‘Relationship among Adolescents’ Characteristics, Peer Group Influence and their Anti-social Behaviours” was used for this study. It has face and content validity. The reliability indices for the subgroups are as follows: physical characteristics, 0.68, intellectual characteristics, 0.68, social/ emotional characteristics, 0.70, peer group influence, 0.71 and adolescents’ anti-social behaviours, 0.69. Regression and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that physical, intellectual, social/emotional characteristics and peer group influence adolescents’ anti-social behaviours. It was recommended that adolescents should be made to indulge in productive leisure time activities where they can dissipate their energies.