Influence of familial characteristics on the psychosocial development of adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the influence of familial characteristics on the psychosocial development of adolescent in selected secondary schools within Somolu Local Government area of Lagos State. In carrying out the study six null hypotheses were tested. The sample for the study comprises two hundred (200) adolescents randomly selected from four public senior secondary schools in Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State. A self-designed instrument with extraction from the modified Erickson Psychosocial Stage Inventory and Student Problem Inventory (SPI) were used for the study. The overall instrument for this study consisted of 30 items with 0.80 reliability score. The data collected were analysed with Pearson Product Moment Correlation and One-way Anova statistics at 0.05 levels of significance. For the six hypotheses postulated, the following statistical results: r-cals=0.64, 0.25 and F-cals of 0.35, 0.181, 0.827, and 11.84 were respectively obtained. The study revealed that: There is significant influence of family type on self-esteem of adolescents. There is significant influence of family type on anxiety of adolescents. There is no significant influence of parental socio-economic status of adolescent on self-esteem of adolescents. There is no significant influence of parental socio-economic status on moral values of adolescents. There is no significant influence of parenting style on self-esteem of adolescents and there is significant influence of each parenting style on anxiety in adolescents. In the light of the study, it was recommended among others that good parenting style should be adopted by every parent; such as authoritative type of parenting. There should be familial capacity building, creating awareness for parents on the issue of adolescent psychosocial well-being which is a crucial factor for societal stability. Such programme could be organized by school counsellors through the auspices of the Parent-Teacher’s Association. There is need for personal social, group and individual counselling in schools where students will be guided.

Keywords: Adolescents, family characteristics, self-esteem and anxiety