Prevalence of Youth Deviant Attitude as Attributed to Parents’ Careless Attitude: Role of Civic Education in Pateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence of youths’ deviant attitude as attributed to parents’ careless attitude: roles of civic education. The study will adopt a descriptive survey research design to enable the researcher collect and analyze data on the consequences of youths’ deviant behaviour within the community. The population comprised of youths, parents, teachers, community leaders, and security personnel, from which a representative sample of 200 was selected using stratified random sampling to ensure adequate representation of all groups. A structured questionnaire titled Youths, Deviant Behaviour and Community Consequences Questionnaire (YDBCCQ) was used for data collection. Findings reveal a high incidence of deviance particularly among male youths aged 16–18 including vandalism, substance abuse, truancy, and violence. The study highlights significant negative impacts on community safety, economic stability, educational environments, and public health. While Civic Education is recognized as crucial for moral development and social responsibility, its implementation faces challenges such as inadequate resources and insufficient teacher training. The study concludes that effective parental supervision combined with strengthened Civic Education programmes, supported by community and government involvement, is essential to curb youth deviance and foster societal balance. Recommendations are provided for stakeholders including parents, community and religious leaders, school administrators, and government agencies.