Religiosity, personality and attitude towards violence among youth in southwest Nigeria: A multi state cross sectional survey

Abstract

Violence has been described as a significant problem among youth. It has continued to be a national phenomenon that impacts many groups across diverse settings. The study examined association religiosity, personality and attitude towards violence (war, Corporal punishment of children; Penal code violence; and Intimate partner violence) among youth. Influence of sex on violence was also investigated. A total of five hundred and twenty-two (n=522) youth were randomly selected from Ibadan, Lagos, Ekiti and Oshogbo to participate in the cross sectional study. Findings revealed that 57.5% of the respondent had positive attitude towards violence war, 55.2% had positive attitude towards violence related to corporal punishment of children, 54.6% had positive attitude towards violence related to penal code while 55.6% had negative attitude towards intimate partner violence. Participants who are female, Muslim from monogamy parent with high score on religiosity (×=130) were more on attitude towards violence. It was further revealed that religiosity(r=-.06), openness to experience(r=-.04) and extraversion(r=-0.21) had inverse relationship with attitude towards violence. Conscientiousness(r=.03), neuroticism(r=.19) and agreeableness(r=.20) had positive relationship with attitude towards violence. In addition, religiosity had significant main influence on intimate partner violence (F(1,521)=12.99;P<.05). Conscientiousness personality trait had significant influence on corporal punishment for children F(1,521)=38.12;P<.05) and penal code for violence F(1,521)=8.02;P<.05). Extraversion was significant on corporal punishment for children F (1,521) =8.12; P<.05) and intimate partner violence F(1,521)=5.72;P<.05). Agreeableness had significant influence on war F(1,521)=4.8;P<.05), corporal punishment for children F(1,521)=32.12;P<.05) and penal code for violence F(1,521)=22.22;P<.05). Neuroticism had significant influence on penal code for violence F(1,521)=3.8;P<.05) and intimate partner violence F(1,521)=7.6;P<.05). Significant Interaction influence were observed on religiosity and extraversion F(1,521)=10.12;P<.05), and religiosity and neuroticism (F(1,521)=6.8;P<.05) on intimate partner violence. Extraversion and neuroticism was also significant on intimate partner violence (F(1,521)=9.71;P<.05). Conscientiousness and extraversion (F(1,521)=13.21;P<.05), and extraversion and agreeableness (F(1,521)=7.31;P<.05) had significant influence on corporal punishment for children. Conscientiousness and agreeableness (F(1,521)=8.8;P<.05),and agreeableness and neuroticism (F(1,521)=9.71;P<.05), on penal code for violence. Conscientiousness, extraversion and agreea bleness had significant influence on corporal punishment for children (F (1,521)=10.34;P<.05). Religiosity, extraversion and neuroticism had significant influence on intimate partner violence (F (1,521)=19.97;P<.05). Conscientiousness, agreeableness and neuroticism significantly influenced penal code for violence (F (1,521)=14.54;P<.05). There was no significant difference between male and female on attitude towards violence (t(520) =-1.21; P, <.05). Degree of religiosity and personality traits are critical in matching policy makers and individuals responsible for violence and injury prevention.

Keywords: Religiosity, personality traits, attitude towards violence, war, Corporal punishment of children; Penal code violence; and Intimate partner violence