Social Influences as Determinants of Sexual Attitudes and Beha-viors among Adolescents in Nigeria

Abstract

This study established the influence of parenting style, siblings, sexual partners and friends/peers interactions on adolescents' sexual attitudes and behaviors. A total of five hundred and forty secondary school adolescents from three senatorial districts in Oyo State were involved in the study. Their ages ranged between 15 and 21 years with a mean age of 18.2 years and standard deviation of 4.2. The two instruments used were author-constructed questionnaires with 0.81 and 0.79 reliability coef- ficient. The data obtained were analysed using multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that, a combination of the independent variables significantly predict adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviors Multiple Regression (R) 0.7456 and (F-ratio= 223.605 p 0.05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that those in the helping professions should take cognizance of those variables that have been found to influence adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviors.