Childhood Trauma, Resilience and Locus of Control as Predictors of Deviant Behaviour among Public Secondary School Students in Sagamu Local Government

Abstract

This study was carried out mainly on the influence of childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control on deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. This study adopted the survey approach of descriptive research design with the population sample of 200 students drawn across the study area. The research instrument comprised a self-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated and subjected to Cronbach Alpha reliability with a coefficient of 0.71. Hypotheses were tested using regression analysis at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The finding from research hypothesis one indicated that there was influence of childhood trauma (alpha= .198; p < 0.05) on deviant behaviour among secondary school students. The result of hypothesis two indicated that there was positive influence of resilience (alpha = .192; p < 0.05) on deviant behaviour among secondary school students. The result of hypothesis three indicated that there was influence of locus of control (alpha = .010; p < 0.05) on deviant behaviour among secondary school students. Joint influence of childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control was shown to be significant on the deviant behaviour (F(3, 196) = 90.524; p > 0.05) among secondary school students in Sagamu Local Government Area, Ogun State. It was concluded that the independent variables jointly influence the dependent variable among secondary school students in Sagamu Local Government Area, Ogun State. Therefore, it was recommended among others that parents should be educated on preventive measures that must be observed in order to prevent their children from the experience of childhood trauma which can affect their behaviour in the later life. Counsellors must engage students affected by childhood trauma in meaningful and sustainable counselling sessions until they observe behavioural changes in such students. Students must also be encouraged to be resilient so as to be able to perform excellently in their academic endeavour.