Strategies for managing deviant behaviour among in-school adolescents as expressed by secondary school counsellors in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated strategies for managing deviant behaviour among in-school adolescents as expressed by secondary school counsellors in Kwara State. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design method. The target population for this study consisted of secondary school counsellors in the state. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 70 respondents from each of the three senatorial districts in Kwara State. The questionnaire titled “Strategies for Managing Deviant Behaviour Questionnaire” was administered to the school counsellors. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. The findings revealed that deviant behaviour is caused by a lack of effective parental upbringing. Also, the major strategy employed by counsellors in handling behavioural problems is the reinforcement technique. The findings revealed that there were no significant differences in the counsellors’ perception on the strategies for managing deviant behaviour among in-school adolescents on the basis of years in service, religion and type of school. To this end, counsellors should continue to provide right information to in-school adolescents about the negative effects of deviant behaviours. The findings of this study will be of benefit to school administrators, teachers and counsellors as it will give them an insight into handling deviant behaviour exhibited among in-school adolescents.

Keywords: deviant behaviour; in-school-adolescents; counsellors; secondary school