INFLUENCE OF FAMILY TYPE, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE AND LOCUS OF CONTROL ON CONDUCT DISORDER AMONG JUVENILES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Behaviour problem among youths has place a large psychological and economic burden on parents, criminal justice agencies and the entire society. This study examined the influence of types of family, adverse childhood experience and locus of control on conduct disorder (CD) among juveniles in correctional institutions in Nigeria. It adopted a survey method utilizing ex-post facto design. The independent variables are family type, childhood adversity and locus of control while dependent variable is conduct disorder. 386 juveniles were sampled in correctional institutions in south-western and northern Nigeria purposively. A structured questionnaire which focused on demographics (age, gender and family type); Brief Propensity Index of Conduct Disorder (BPI-CD), Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire and Locus of Control Scale were administered. t-test of independent sample and 2x2 ANOVA were used. The age of respondents was 11.5±18.7 years; 81.30% were males. result showed a significant different between family type of respondents on CD t(384)=10.95; p<.01); Juveniles from nuclear family scored significantly different (M=35.90, S. D= 9.56) on CD compare to those from extended family (M=46.21, S.D =4.75). Adverse Childhood Experience significantly influenced CD (F(1, 381)=19.00, p<.01; η_p²=.048). The phi-eta coefficient revealed that 48% of the variance observed in CD was strictly accounted for by adverse childhood experience. External locus of control (=49.92; SD = 11.26) predisposed participants to CD. Therefore, authorities of correctional services should provide psychological programmes that will cater for external locus of control trait and adverse childhood experience (ACE) among juveniles to enhance a better behavioural modification.