Causes and Preventive Measures of Aggressive Behaviour among In-school Adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis: Stakeholders’ Perception

Abstract

Aggressive behaviour has been described to be an act engaged in to harm someone who is considered to be vulnerable. It has been observed to be on the increase among young people, most particularly, adolescents in our society. This study therefore examines the stakeholders’ perceived causes and preventive measures of aggressive behaviours among in-school adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis in Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used for this study. Two hundred senior secondary school students and 100 teachers; making a total of 300 respondents, were selected for the study. A questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents. The instrument was validated by experts in the Department of Social Sciences Education. Two research questions were answered and two research hypotheses tested.  Percentage and mean ratings were used to answer Research Questions One and Two, while an independent t-test was used to test the two formulated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of this study revealed that the stakeholders’ perceived causes of aggressive behaviour among in-school adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis was poor teacher-students’ interactions. Stakeholders perceived preventive measures to aggressive behaviour to be regular moral and religion teachings, and parental monitoring of what their children watch on social media. Based on the discussion of findings and the conclusions drawn, it was recommended that aggressive behaviour among in-school adolescents can be prevented by engaging in moral and religion teachings on aggressive behaviour.