Video Games and Adolescents’ Deviant Behaviours in Selected Secondary Schools in the Bamenda Municipality in the North West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed at investigating the effects of video games on adolescents’ deviant behaviours in selected secondary schools in Bamenda municipality, in Mezam Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. The specific objective was to examine how video games affect adolescents’ deviant behaviors.
 Methods: The theoretical underpinnings of this study was informed by Albert Bandura’s (1997) Social learning theory, Hirschi's Social Control Theory (2002) and Roggers’ Innovation-diffusion theory (1995). The study employed the concurrent mixed method design whereby both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. A sample of 384 were randomly selected from five high schools located within the Bamenda Municipality in the North West Region of Cameroon. These schools were GBHS Bamendankwe, GBHS Downtown, GBTHS Bamenda, PCHS Mankon and SMASA Nkwen. A structured questionnaire and an interview guide were the main data collection instruments. Linear regression analysis was used to verify the effect of video games on adolescents’ deviant behaviours. The hypothesis was tested at the significance level of 0.05. The qualitative data obtained were analyzed using the technique of content thematic analysis.
 Results: Regression analysis shows that when video games increase by one unit, adolescents’ deviant behavior increases by 0. 572 unit.
 Conclusion: Given that this increase is significant with a p-value of 0.000, it is evident from the study that video games significantly affect adolescents’ deviant behavior.
 Recommendation: Adolescents should not spend most of their time using their ICTs gadgets to play video games rather they should use them to engage in more productive activities like personal research and to study. The government can equally put restrictions on/or block the download of game apps that are not beneficial to adolescents within its borders.