Parenting Styles as a Predictor of Substance Abuse among Undergraduates in Public Universities in Kwara State

Abstract

The study aimed at viewing Parenting Styles as a predictor of substance abuse among undergraduates in Nigeria and also determined the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Descriptive research design of correlational type was used for this study. A sampling procedure was employed to select 216 respondents and a questionnaire consisting of two sub-scales namely; Substance Abuse Scale (SAS) and Parenting Practices Questionnaire (PPQ) were adapted as the research tool for the collection of data. Frequency counts, percentage and charts were used to describe demographic data of sampled respondents while the research hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance with the use of Pearson Product Moment Coefficient (PPMC). The findings showed that majority of undergraduates in public universities in Kwara State were affected by the authoritarian parenting style which instigated most of them to become substance addicts. Suggestions and recommendations were made to parents, counselors, lecturers, University management, government and religious groups among which is the organisation of self-awareness skills training by the counsellors and excursion exercise to rehab centers by the management as well as provision of spiritual counseling by the religious groups. Suggestions were made to further this study for wider scope and efficient results in the society.