INTEGRITY JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2811-2407
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/IJAH
Start Year: 2020
Email: ijah@integrityresjournals.org
Influence of socio-cultural norms on juvenile delinquency among secondary school students in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State
https://doi.org/10.31248/IJAH2026.237 | Article Number: C5934D732 | Vol.7 (2) - August 2026
Received Date: 19 March 2026 | Accepted Date: 08 June 2026 | Published Date: 30 August 2026
Authors: Chigbuo Lawrence Ohaeri and Lawrence Okoro*
Keywords: Juvenile delinquency, parental, socio-cultural, societal influence.
This study examined influence of socio-cultural norms on juvenile delinquency among secondary school students in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Four research purposes and four research questions guided the study. A descriptive survey research design was employed. The population comprised 4,454 students from 16 public secondary schools and 445 students (10%) were sampled using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire tagged Socio-cultural Factors of Juvenile Delinquency Questionnaire (SCFJDQ) developed by the researchers based on a four-point rating scale. The results indicate that weak parental supervision, unstable family structures, low parental socio-economic status, peer influence, media exposure, and adverse societal conditions notably contribute to juvenile delinquency among secondary school students, indicating that juvenile delinquency is associated with increased insecurity, poor academic engagement, school dropout, and broader social instability. The study concludes that juvenile delinquency among adolescents in Ehime Mbano is predominantly shaped by interconnected socio-cultural conditions rather than individual disposition.
| Adegoke, N. U. (2015). Factors responsible for juvenile delinquency in Nigeria: A case study of selected primary schools in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(5), 78-84. | ||||
| Alfry, C. (2010). Juvenile delinquency and family structure: Implications for marriage and relationship education. National Healthy Marriage Centre. Retrieved 20th March 2023 from https://www.healthymarriageinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/405.pdf. | ||||
| Ali, S. M., & Masood, S. (2018). Role of family, neighbourhood and peers in development of delinquent behavior in adolescents. Peshawar Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 4(2), 171. https://doi.org/10.32879/picp.2018.4.2.171 |
||||
| American Psychological Association (2007). Task force on socio-economic status. American Psychological Association. Washington, DC. 41p. Retrieved March 17 2023 from https://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/task-force-2006.pdf. | ||||
| Children and Young Persons Law (CYPL) 1958). Nigeria. | ||||
| Chisom, E. D. (2016). Knowledge and awareness of juvenile delinquency services by the residence of Nsukka Local Government Area. Unpublished B. Sc. Project. University of Nigeria Nsukka. Retrieved 15th March, 2023 from http://www.researchgate.net. | ||||
| Chowdhury, M. A. A., & Fahim, M. H. K. (2019). An appraisal of causes and consequences of Juvenile Delinquency in Bangladesh: Search for a Durable solution. Bangladesh Institute of Legal Development (BiLD) Law Journal, 4(1), 60-80. | ||||
| Clark, R. D., & Shields, G. (1997). Family communication and delinquency. Adolescence, 32(125), 81-93. | ||||
| Cole, B., & Chipaca, A. (2014). Juvenile delinquency in Angola. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 14(1), 61-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895813503465 |
||||
| de Miguel-Calvo, E. (2020). Vulnerability and agency: Women after prison in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. In Women, vulnerabilities and welfare service systems (pp. 139-152). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429276910-14 |
||||
| Dunkel, F., Grzywa, J., Horsfield, P., & Pruin, I. (2011). Juvenile justice systems in Europe: Current Situation and Reform Developments. Forum. Verlag, 1(2), 20-28. | ||||
| Du-Preez, N. C. & Luyt, W. B. (2021). Fundamentals and developmental psychology in youth corrections (2nd Edition). Pretoria: Unisa Press. | ||||
| Ebenuwa-Okoh, E. & Ugorji, N. F. (2015). Environmental violence, family upbringing and peer influence as correlates of destructive tendencies in adolescents. International Journal of Psychology and Counselling, 7(4), 69-77. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJPC2014.0300 |
||||
| Encyclopaedia Americana (Vol. 16) (1971). International edition. New York: American Corporation. | ||||
| Faraja, L. G. (2014). Dynamics of juvenile delinquency and crimes in Arusha city. Unpublished Masters Thesis, University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. | ||||
| Fergusson, D., Swain‐Campbell, N., & Horwood, J. (2004). How does childhood economic disadvantage lead to crime? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(5), 956-966. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.t01-1-00288.x |
||||
| Haveripet, P. (2013). Causes and consequences of juvenile delinquency in India. Recent Research in Science and Technology, 5(3), 29-31. | ||||
| Hockenberry, S. (2016). Juveniles in residential placement, 2013. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. 15p. Retrieved from https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/ files/pubs/249507.pdf. | ||||
| Ike, C. N. N., & Okoro, L. (2024). Federalism that is not Federating: Understanding why the Centre and the Constituent Units Fail in Security Provision in Nigeria. Alvan Journal of Social sciences, 1(1), 1-17 | ||||
| Kamani, K. A. (2010). Influence of family structure on juvenile delinquency in Nakuru Children's Remand Home. Retrieved March 4th, 2023 from https://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/ items/879a6a3e-326e-4460-9da5-875f4fb44954 | ||||
| Kemme, S., Hanslmaier, M., & Pfeiffer, C. (2014). Experience of parental corporal punishment in childhood and adolescence and its effect on punitiveness. Journal of Family Violence, 29(2), 129-142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9564-3 |
||||
| Kim, H. N., & Kim, H. C. (2008). Juvenile delinquency and youth crime. New York: Nova Science Publishers. | ||||
| Ladokun, A. O. (2018). Geographies of juvenile crime: A study of crime in selected high schools in East London. Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Fort Hare, South Africa. | ||||
| Mambende, B., Nyandoro, T., Maunganidze, L., & Sawuti, A. (2016). Factors influencing youth juvenile delinquency at blue Hills Children's Prison Rehabilitation centre in Gweru, Zimbabwe: An explorative study. International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education, 3(4), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.0304004 |
||||
| Mamman, H., Othman, A. T., & Lian, L. H. (2014). Adolescent's and drugs abuse in Nigeria. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 4(1), 5-9. | ||||
| Marvin, D. C. & Krohn, J. L. (2015). The Handbook of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice. New Zealand. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | ||||
| Maseko, S. N. M. (2020). Non-heterosexual school youth experiences of HIV education in Life Orientation. University of Johannesburg (South Africa). | ||||
| Nisar, M., Ullah, S., Ali, M., & Alam, S. (2015). Juvenile delinquency: The Influence of family, peer and economic factors on juvenile delinquents. Applied Science Reports, 9(1), 37-48. https://doi.org/10.15192/PSCP.ASR.2015.9.1.3748 |
||||
| Nwana, O. C. (1982). Introduction to Educational Research. Ibadan: Heinemann Education Books. | ||||
| Nworgu, B. G. (2015). Educational research: Basic issues and methodology. Enugu: University Trust Publishers. | ||||
| Okoro, L., Okere, I. J., Nsude, S., & Ani, N. A. (2025). Can blended learning enhance intrinsic motivation to learn political science education among undergraduate students: A review of empirical studies. Integral Research, 2(8), 1-17. | ||||
| Ojo, M. O. D. (2012). A sociological review of issues on juveline delinquency. Journal of International Social Research, 5(21), 468. | ||||
| Omboto, J. O., Ondiek, G. O., Odera, O., & Ayugi, M. E. (2013). Factors influencing youth crime and juvenile delinquency. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 1(2), 18-21. | ||||
| Onunkwo, A., & Uzoije, A. P. (2011). Exploratory survey of geochemical aspects of underground water in Ehime Mbano Area SE Nigeria. Global Journal of Research in Engineering, 11(4), 14-22. | ||||
| Patoari, M. M. H. (2020). Socio-economic, cultural and family factors causing juvenile delinquency and its consequences in Bangladesh: A look for way out. Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Management Studies, 7(2), 89-98. https://doi.org/10.20448/journal.500.2020.72.89.98 |
||||
| Pelser, E. (2008). Learning to be lost: Youth crime in South Africa. Discussion papers for the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) youth policy initiative. Cape Town: Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP). Promotion, Geneva, Switzerland. Pp. 1-14. | ||||
| Shoemaker, D. (2010). Theories of delinquency. New York: Oxford University Press. | ||||
| Singh, S. (2017). Peer pressure among adolescents in relation to family climate. Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, 8(3), 196-199. | ||||
| Ugwuoke, C. U., & Duruji, O. U. (2015). Family instability and juvenile delinquency in Nigeria: A study of Owerri municipality. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 20(1), 40-45. | ||||
| UNICEF (2012). Support to the Justice Sector in Nigeria. United Nations Children's Fund. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/conig/en/stories/support-to-the-justice-sector-in-nigeria.html. | ||||
| United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/352). Retrieved from https://www.compassion.com/multimedia/world-urbanization-prospects.pdf. https://doi.org/10.18356/527e5125-en |
||||
| Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M., & Tremblay, R. E. (2000). Influence of deviant friends on delinquency: Searching for moderator variables. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28(4), 313-325. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005188108461 |
||||
| Vitulano, M. L., Fite, P. J., & Rathert, J. L. (2010). Delinquent peer influence on childhood delinquency: The moderating effect of impulsivity. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32(3), 315-322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-009-9160-2 |
||||
| Vogel, M., & South, S. J. (2016). Spatial dimensions of the effect of neighborhood disadvantage on delinquency. Criminology, 54(3), 434-458. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.12110 |
||||
| World Bank (1990). World Development Report: Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press. | ||||
| World Youth Report (2013). The Global situation of young people. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/worldyouthreport.pdf. | ||||
| Young, S., Greer, B., & Church, R. (2017). Juvenile delinquency, welfare, justice and therapeutic interventions: a global perspective. BJPsych bulletin, 41(1), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.115.052274 |
||||
| Yusuf, S. A., Daud, M. N., Arshat, Z., & Sakiru, O. K. (2021). The role of peer influence on juvenile delinquency among adolescents in the government remand homes, Lagos State Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(11), 2530-2545. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i11/11773 |
||||
| Zenzile, E. (2008). Juvenile delinquency among secondary school pupils in Mthatha District of Education: Self-report survey. Unpublished Bachelor of Arts Project, University of Zululand, South Africa. Retrieved from https://uzspace.unizulu.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/77309233-30a7-4ec4-8161-0d9fbba6cd5a/content. | ||||
Copyright © 2026 Integrity Research Journals. All rights reserved.