PREDICTORS OF CRIMINAL INTENT AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: THE ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCES, PEER PRESSURE, AND PARENTING STYLES IN GUMA, BENUE STATE

Abstract

This study examined the role of gender differences, peer pressure, and parenting
styles as predictors of criminal intent among secondary school students, employing a cross-
sectional survey design. The simple random sampling was utilised in the administration of two
hundred and seventy-one (271) questionnaires, with their demographic characteristics showing
(Male = 194 (71.6%), and Female = 77 (28.4%). The age range was between 11 and 17, with a
mean age of 14.1 (SD = 1.8). Participants responded to three standardised self-report
questionnaires. Hypotheses were formulated and inferentially tested at the 0.05 level of
significance. Results showed no significant difference between males and females on criminal
intent behaviours, [t (269) = 1.051; p = .294]. A likely reason is that both males and females in the
study were exposed to similar environmental, social, and cultural influences, which shaped their
criminal intent behaviours in comparable ways. Also, peer pressure did not predict criminal intent
[R=.007, R2=.006, F [1,269] =.015, p>0.05]. One reason could be that other factors, such as family
upbringing, personal values, and socioeconomic conditions, had a stronger influence on criminal
intent than peer pressure. However, results revealed that parenting styles jointly predicted criminal
intent [R = 415; R2 = .173; F (3, 267) = 18.556; p < 0.05]. Lastly, the results revealed that gender
differences, peer pressure and parenting styles jointly predicted criminal intent [R = 429; R2 =
.184; F (5, 265) = 11.962; p < 0.05]. These findings highlight the importance of guidance and
counselling for parents and adolescents, to help them cope with life challenges and build their
social and emotional skills. Additionally, they emphasise the necessity of appointing school
psychologists and public health experts to support adolescents in becoming valuable individuals.
Additionally, adolescents should be guided in forming good friendships to reduce peer pressure
resulting from associating with bad friends.