RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEER RELATIONS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research was carried out to examine the relationship between peer relations and juvenile delinquency among senior secondary school students in Nasarawa State. The study adopted correlational research design. The population of the study was 21,875 and a sample size of 378 was used for the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to compose the sample. One research question was answered and also one hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Researcher- designed structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts from the Measurement and evaluation Department and Educational Foundations Department for content and construct validity which produces a validity index of 0.86. The reliability of the instrument was obtained using Richards Kuder son formula which gave a reliability index of 0.79. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test the null hypothesis. Findings from the study revealed that there is significant negative relationship between peer relation and juvenile delinquency among secondary school students in Nasarawa state. The study concluded that the rate of juvenile delinquencies experienced in secondary schools in Nasarawa state is linked to peer relations. The study therefore recommended that Parents should monitor the kind of friends their children interact with to prevent negative peer influence.

DOI: https://doie.org/10.10318/SER.2026940241