ABSTRACT

The study aimed at assessing the nature of parent-adolescent communication and adolescent risky behaviours. Five research questions, and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A survey research design was used. The area for the study was Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The population comprised adolescents of 12-18 years. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select sample size of 120 respondents. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Administration of the instrument was by hand to adolescents from six selected schools in three clan out of the four clans that makes up the Local Government Area. 120 valid copies of the instrument were returned and used for data analyses. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson correlation was used to test the hypotheses. Result revealed that both male and female adolescents took part in the study, and majority of them were residing with their parents with 82.5% and majority of them were from both parents family with 58.3%. Results revealed that low risky behaviour was <0.5 (greater than 0.5) while the high risky behaviour was > 0.5 (less than and equal to 0.5). Test of hypotheses revealed that there is a significant relationship between the ages of the respondents and the extent of risky behaviour. And also there is a positive significant relationship between the family size of the respondent and the extent of the risky behaviour they engaged in. based on the findings, recommendations were made for parents to enable them have more favourable nature of communication, parents should try to be less strict with their adolescents, in order to promote openness of adolescent to parent and thus be free to discuss anything with parents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                          Pages

Title page    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        i

Declaration           -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        ii

Certification         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

Dedication  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

Acknowledgement         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        v

Abstract      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vii

Table of Contents -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        viii

List of Tables       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xiii

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction

1.1     Background of the Study        -        -        -        -        -        -        1

1.2     Statement of Problem    -        -        -        -        -        -        9

1.3     Objectives of the Study  -        -        -        -        -        -        9

1.4     Research Questions       -        -        -        -        -        -        10

1.5     Hypotheses -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        10

16      Significance of the Study         -        -        -        -        -        -        11

1.7     Scope of the Study        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        11

1.8     Limitation of the Study  -        -        -        -        -        -        12

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1     Conceptual Framework -        -        -        -        -        -        13

2.1.1  The Concept of Communication       -        -        -        -        13

2.1.2  Patterns of Communication     -        -        -        -        -        14

2.1.3  Parent Adolescents Communication and Involvement in Risky

 Behaviour  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        15

2.1.4  Parent-Adolescent Communication   -        -        -        -        16

2.1.5  Parent-Adolescent Communication, Depression and self harm        17

2.1.6  Parent-Adolescent Communication and suicidal ideation        -        18

2.1.7  Parent-Adolescent Communication and Sexual and Reproductive

 Behaviour  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        19

2.1.8  Parent-Adolescent Communication Relationship and

behaviours           -        -        -        -        -        -        -        20

2.2     Factors that Affects Communication Between parents and

Adolescents          -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        21

2.2.1  Parenting Style     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        22

2.2.2  Family Size -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        22

2.2.3  Lack of Parental Involvement  -        -        -        -        -        23

2.3     Theoretical Framework  -        -        -        -        -        -        23

2.3.1  Rommetvelt and Blackar Communication Model -        -        23

2.3.2  Heinz Kuhut’s Object Relations theory of self     -        -        25

2.4     Empirical Framework    -        -        -        -        -        -        26

2.5     Summary of Literature Review         -        -        -        -        -        30

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1     The Study utilized a descriptive Survey method of the Study 31

3.2     Area of Study       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        31

3.3     Population of the Study -        -        -        -        -        -        32

3.4     Sample and Sampling Technique      -        -        -        -        32

3.5     Instrument for Data Collection         -        -        -        -        -        32

3.6     Method of Data Collection      -        -        -        -        -        33

3.7     Validity      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        33

3.8     Reliability of Instrument         -        -        -        -        -        -        34

3.9     Method of Analysis       -        -        -        -        -        -        34

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1     Answering the Research Questions   -        -        -        -        40

4.1.1  Research Questions 1    -        -        -        -        -        -        40

4.1.2  Research Question 2      -        -        -        -        -        -        43

4.1.3  Research Question 3      -        -        -        -        -        -        46

4.1.4  Research Question 4      -        -        -        -        -        -        46

4.1.5  Research Questions 5    -        -        -        -        -        -        49

4.2     Testing the Hypothesis  -        -        -        -        -        -        50

4.3     Discussion of Findings  -        -        -        -        -        -        53

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1     Summary    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        57

5.2     Conclusion -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        58

5.3     Recommendations         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        59

References  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        60

Appendices          -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        71

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1:   Names of School in Uyo Local Government Area         -        36     

Table 3.2:   Stratified Random Sampling of Secondary School Students

                   In Uyo Local Government Area        -        -        -        -        38

Table 4.1:   Demographic Characteristics of Adolescents       -        -        40

Table 4.2:   Nature of Parent-Adolescent Communication      -        43

Table. 4.2B:         Distribution of Adolescents based or nature of their Parent adolescent Communication    -        -        -        -        46

Table 4.3:   Extent of Risky Behaviour Engaged in by Respondents         47

Table 4.3B: Distribution of Extent of Risky Behaviour Engaged in by Adolescent       -          -        -        -        -        -        -        47

Table 4.4:   Simple Linear Regression Result of Nature of Parent Adolescent Communication among adolescents and

Extent of Risky Behaviour  of Adolescent in Uyo Local Government Area          -        -        -        -        -        -        48

4.5:             Difference in Nature of Parent-adolescent Communication between adolescents living with Single Parent and those

living with both parents -        -        -        -        -        49

Table 4.6:   Correlation analysis of the relationship between the age

of the Respondents and the extent of Risky Behaviours

they engaged in    -        -        -        -        -        -        50

Table 4.7:   Correlation analysis of the relationship between the family size of the respondents and the extent of risky behaviour they are engaged in  -        -          -        -        -        -        -        52

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

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